HARARE – Prosecutors on Thursday charged seven MDC supporters with criminal nuisance after a gathering to hear party leader Nelson Chamisa speak from a balcony at the party’s Harare headquarters on Wednesday was violently crushed by the police.

Godfrey Karembera, 42, Shoko Zindoga, 42, Victor Maramba, 20, Honzeri Zondai, 37, Gift Ben, 30, Rose Chitsungo, 30, and Maria Tinago 36, were not asked to plead when they appeared before Harare provincial magistrate Victoria Mashamba.

Mashamba granted each of the seven $200 bail.

As part of their bail conditions, they were also ordered to report every Friday at their nearest police stations.

Prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti alleged that the seven, acting in common purpose with their accomplices who are still at large, gathered outside the Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House along Nelson Mandela in the CBD waiting for an address by Chamisa.

Mutsokoti said police had not cleared the gathering.

The court heard that the seven and their accomplices blocked the free movement of traffic which resulted in the police dispersing them.

Prosecutors allege the seven started throwing at the police chanting “hatidi zvekupihwa order nemasascam.”

Several people were injured when police fired teargas at the group and used sjamboks after charging at the crowd.