Source: Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
On Monday 19 September 2016 Justice Happias Zhou released 18 Harare activists including Pride Mukono and Tinotenda Mhungu who had been languishing in prison since last month on $50 bail.
The activists who were arrested last month and charged with public violence over the demonstration against police brutality were denied bail when they appeared before the Magistrates Court compelling them to appeal at the High Court.
The 18 who were being represented by ZLHR lawyers Jeremiah Bamu, Dorcas Chitiyo, and Denford Halimani were asked to surrender their passports, to report to Harare Central Police Law and Order section once every fortnight and not to interfere with State witnesses. They were also ordered not to address people during their remand until after the trial.
Petros Sokole and 68 others who are being represented by Trust Maanda were however denied bail and they will now appeal at the High Court. They were remanded in custody to 3 October 2016.
In Bulawayo Magistrate Tashaya upheld an application made by Lizwe Jamela on behalf of Brighton Hobane objecting charges of contravening Section 33 of Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act which deals with Insulting or undermining the authority of the President.
The Magistrate stated that the mere mention of the word Mugabe does not constitute a crime as it is a mere name and that the name Grace does not find its way in section 33 because she is not the President of the country.
Bail ruling in the case of Honourable Sarwaka who was arrested on Saturday in Mutare over the Nera demo and is being charged with contravening Section 37 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform ) Act for participating in a public gathering with the intention to cause public violence has been set down for tomorrow at 1115 am. He is being represented by Rangarirai Mubata.
Source: Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights