The High Court today granted eight Chiredzi Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) members bail awaiting trial over the case of an alleged violent protest against police ban of unsanctioned campaign rally for the August 23 harmonised elections.
The accused Farai Chauke, Kudzai Madyira, Charles Mungati, Gladmore Gunguwo, Shonhai Mollen, Loyd Mucharu, Agrippa Dhambureni, and Simon Hlomani who were arrested on July 5 this year at Tshovani Stadium in Chiredzi where CCC leader Nelson Chamisa was supposed to address his supporters.
The accused were arrested for violating the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act which deals with regulating and the sanctioning of political gatherings.
The accused persons were initially remanded in custody at Chiredzi Magistrate Court and they appealed to the High Court.
They were represented by Ross Chavi from Ross Chavi Law Chambers.
When granting bail, Justice Zisengwe said that the offense was not as serious as the state had portrayed and there was not enough grounds to deny the eight the right to be tried from home.
The court order stated that, “the appellants be and are hereby granted bail on the condition that each deposits RTGs 100 000. 00 with the Clerk of Court, Chiredzi Magistrate Court,” and appellants to stay in their recorded addresses in Chiredzi “until the matter is finalised.”
Speaking to The Midweek Watch, the CCC aspiring member of parliament candidate Ropafadzo Makumire said, “these people were not supposed to be arrested in the first place because some of these people were just caught in the cross fire coming from work, some were already dispersing from the venue as they were told to do so.”
“Some were followed to their homes even though they were not part of the gathering and the arrested youths were not supposed to be denied bail in the first place.
“They did not deserve to spend 12 days in jail mingling with robbers and hardcore criminals. They just wanted to silence the voice of people who are demanding change in Zimbabwe,” added Makumire.
