HARARE – The Harare High Court on Tuesday ordered the release on bail of activist pastor Evan Mawarire, who was arrested on charges of subversion following anti-government protests on January 14.
Mawarire is one of more than 850 people who were arrested in a crackdown by security forces over their alleged roles in demonstrations against a 168 percent hike in fuel prices.
The activist’s lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, said he would be released on Wednesday.
In Masvingo, the MDC’s Mkoba MP Amos Chibaya, held for allegedly inciting violence, was ordered freed on $500 bail by Justice Joseph Mafusire – but the MP was immediately re-arrested by police, this time charged with subversion.
In Bindura, Zanu PF’s former Mashonaland Central chairman Dickson Mafios was sentenced to two years in prison after he was convicted for incitement of violence.
Ten months of the sentence were conditionally suspended, meaning he will serve an effective 14 months in jail.
His lawyer, Graciano Manyurureni, had asked the magistrate to give him community service instead.
Mafios, who denied the charges, was accused of challenging patrons at the Club 10 bar in Chiwaridzo Shopping Centre in Bindura to stand up, burn and destroy property in solidarity with protests that had taken place across the country the previous day, on January 14.
Carol Mupazviriwo, for the prosecution, said Mafios also made “demeaning” remarks about President Emmerson Mnangagwa, although that was not part of the charges.
Bindura magistrate Moreblessing Makati said before sentencing Mafios: “The accused is not a first offender. He failed to take heed of the suspended sentence when he was convicted on May 30 for skipping the border in contravention of the Immigration Act.
“He is a popular figure and the utterances could have influenced unrest. However, I have also considered that the utterances were not persistent, and the crowd remained unresponsive.”
Mafios told his trial that the allegations were a fabrication, and denied being at the bar on that day.
