During the raid on 12 October last year, police took away 862 windup radios that Demcof intended to distribute to rural areas in the Midlands province where thousands of people have no access to information due to poverty. The wind up radios work on solar energy. They are powered through manual action on the case and were designed in 1991 by British inventor Trevor Baylis for use in developing countries.
However, Zanu (PF), which views rural areas as its stronghold, strongly opposed distribution of the radios on the basis that masses would listen to stations critical of the party’s policies – such as Voice of America’s Studio 7, Radio VOP and SW Radio Africa.
The state, led by prosecutor Bonwell Balamanje, wanted to nail Shiri on the basis that he had smuggled the radios into the country, thereby contravening the Customs and Excise Act.
However Shiri, represented by lawyer Reginal Chidawanyika of Chitere and Chidawanyika Legal practitioners, told magistrate Rutendo Muchena that the radios were not personal possessions of anyone, but owned by Demcof.
Shiri also stated that if import laws were violated, then the Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) should come forward to complain. Magistrate Muchena said the state had failed to prove its case.
The raided windup radios are still in police possession but Chidawanyika says they should be given back to Demcof.
Post published in: News