HARARE — A prominent opposition activist who was abducted and badly tortured before police charged him with inciting violence walked free on Wednesday when a Harare magistrate tossed the charges, ending eight months of pre-trial detention.
Godfrey Karembera, popularly known as Madzibaba veShanduko, had been repeatedly denied bail since his arrest in October last year and spent the duration of the case behind bars while his co-accused attended trial from home.
Harare magistrate Lisa Mutendereki found Karembera, Jim Kunaka and Jestere Malcom Masarira not guilty and ordered their discharge without being called to present a defence.
The trio had been charged with inciting public violence after prosecutors accused them of encouraging Zimbabweans to participate in anti-government demonstrations planned for October 2025. Prosecutors alleged they were among activists associated with the late war veteran Blessed Geza’s proposed “one million-man march”, and that they had distributed thousands of flyers urging citizens to turn out at Africa Unity Square and Robert Gabriel Mugabe Square.
Police claimed they recovered approximately 7,200 flyers after intercepting a silver Toyota Aqua in Glen View 3 and alleged that Karembera fled the scene. The State also accused him of circulating a video encouraging people to join the planned protests.
The prosecution’s evidence ultimately failed to persuade the court there was a case to answer.
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, through lawyer Paida Saurombe, welcomed the outcome.
Karembera had consistently maintained that the charges were politically motivated and that he was being punished for exercising his constitutional rights. He had been abducted and badly tortured ahead of his formal arrest – an ordeal that drew widespread condemnation and focused international attention on the case long before it reached trial.
