Harare judge moves Magaya rape trial to closed court

A courtroom shutdown just flipped Walter Magaya's rape case into a private fight with huge stakes.

Closed-door trial order in Harare

• Walter Magaya faces a rape trial behind closed doors.
• Harare magistrate Esthere Chivasa pushed the case into camera.
• Chivasa argued that open hearings leave complainants retraumatized.
• Victim Friendly Court setup aims to guard witnesses while they testify.

Constitutional Court challenge brewing

• Admire Rubaya plans to fight the ruling at the Constitutional Court.
• Magaya's camp wants proceedings kept out of the special court.
• Court officials bumped the matter to tomorrow morning.
• An oral bid for referral will get aired then.