The prosecution in the case in which Chiredzi commercial farmer and businessman Sean Digby Nesbitt is facing charges of refusing to vacate State land has accused defence lawyers of employing delaying tactics to stall the finalisation of the trial.

This came after the two defence lawyers, Ms Nyaradzo Maposa and Mr Rodium Makausi, failed to show up for the case which was set to resume in Chiredzi on Monday.

Ms Maposa was reportedly attending to other land cases at the High Court in Harare while Mr Makause proffered no reasons for not attending. Chief law officer Mr Tawanda Zvekare told Chiredzi magistrate Mr Enias Magate that the case had taken too long to complete.

He said on several occasions the defence lawyers had not shown up in a deliberate attempt to buy time. “The defence cannot continue holding the State at ransom using delaying tactics to delay the finalisation of the trial,” said Mr Zvekare. He suggested that Nesbitt engage services of other lawyers.

Mr Zvekare said if Ms Maposa was attending to other cases, then Mr Makause should have been present.

“This lacks seriousness on the part of the defence because as long as she says she won’t be available, then everything has to stop.”

(Source)