HARARE – The prosecution of MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere and six others for allegedly holding an illegal demonstration and inciting public violence collapsed on Friday.

Mahere and her co-accused Jessica and Simon Drury, Tinashe Murapata, Nyasha Musandi, Tinotendwa Muswe and Jasper Lotter were removed from remand by Harare magistrate Stanford Mambanje over inordinate delays by the National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) in putting them on trial.

The seven were arrested at Groombridge Spar shopping complex on July 1 last year during nationwide protests against economic mismanagement, corruption and repression by the Zanu PF government.

Police said they were holding placards aimed at inciting public demonstrations and violence, which they denied.

Taking a stand … MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere during protests last year

Their legal team of Doug Coltart and Chris Mhike told the court that the seven have been religiously attending court hearings with the prosecution showing no appetite for trying them.

Coltart said the clerk of court had failed to locate their dockets and the continued postponements were exposing their clients to the Covid-19 virus.

Malvern Mapako, for the prosecution, had asked the court to postpone the matter to another date, insisting that their dockets were with the Prosecutor General.

Mambanje said the prosecution would suffer no prejudice if the seven were removed from remand. The prosecution could always summon them when ready for trial, the magistrate ruled.