GWERU – Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) president Peter Mutasa and the labour movement’s secretary-general, Japhet Moyo, were freed on $50 bail each on Saturday.

The two unionists were arrested along with 40 others across the country last Thursday after police blocked protests over a 2 percent tax on all electronic transfers announced by Finance Minister Mthuli Ncube.

The tax has triggered a wave of price increases, commodity shortages and shop closures.

Mutasa, 41, and Moyo, 54, on Friday appeared before Harare magistrate Nyasha Vitorini along with Simon Tendai Mutasa, 32, Ezekiel Haimishi Matema, 28, Munashe Chirovamari, 42, Benice Maluleke, 44 and Priscilla Jonhi, 52, charged with participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of peace or bigotry as defined in Section 37 of the Criminal Law Codification and Reform Act.

The bail ruling had been postponed to Saturday. Vitorini remanded them out of custody to 30 October.

In Mutare, 20 unionists including ZCTU regional manager Tenson Muchefa appeared before Mutare magistrate Tendai Mahwe, who granted them $50 bail each.

They will appear again in court on October 26.

In Gweru, ZCTU regional chair Kudakwashe Munengiwa was being sought by police over the anti-government protests.

Arrested were the city’s former mayor and ZCTU administrator Charles Chikozho and local officials Moses Gwaunza and Bernard Sibanda.

Gwaunza was picked up on Thursday night at his home and was detained at the Gweru Central Police Station while Chikozho and Sibanda were arrested Friday morning.

They were all later released after the National Prosecuting Authority refused to prosecute.

Standoff … Charles Chikozho (with red cap) and Moses Gwaunza (far left) talking to police bosses during Thursday’s demonstrations in Gweru

Of all the major cities, only Gweru had successful protests with police disrupting demonstrations everywhere else.

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said it was representing 42 trade unionists countrywide.

Twelve activists were arrested in Masvingo and released late Thursday; 20 were arrested in Mutare and seven in Harare.