HARARE – A 17-year-old minor, and three elderly citizens aged 81, 72 and 63, are among the 25 Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activists seized by anti-riot police in a highly condemned weekend raid at a party legislator’s home in Budiriro, Harare.
The activists appeared before a Harare magistrate Monday charged with Contravening Section 37 of the Criminal Codification and Reform Act which prohibits participation in “an illegal gathering for purposes of promoting or inciting public violence”.
The activists, who include Mkoba legislator Amos Chibaya, were taken to court earlier in the day accompanied by armed police officers.
They were remanded in custody to this Tuesday for continuation of bail hearing.
The juvenile girl was however released on Monday to the custody of her guardian after having endured two nights under police detention.
The activists’ lawyer, Advocate Wilbert Mandinde said he was aiming to have his clients freed as soon as possible.
“The charges are a little bit absurd for us but we thought we would speed up the accused persons’ release by proceeding to deal with the issues of bail,” Mandinde said.
“So we have proceeded with the bail application and the State has put on stand the Investigating Officer who is currently giving evidence on why he is opposing bail.”
CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere insisted the party activists were innocent, arguing that Zimbabwean statutes do not prohibit meetings conducted privately.
She also queried the arrest of the senior citizens whom she said were innocent.
“Elderly citizens were not spared in the unlawful Budiriro dragnet arrest. Sekuru Netsambo is 81. Sekuru Karambwe is 63 … They’re innocent,” Mahere said via her twitter handle Monday.
According to the State, police on Saturday pounced on the activists who were conducting the meeting while chanting the CCC slogan, “Ngaapinde Mukomana” at the home of party legislator Costa Machingauta.
“While at the gathering, the accused persons chanted [CCC] political party slogan ‘Ngaapinde hake Mukomana, 2023 Chamisa chete chete’ meaning ‘let the boy get in, 2023 Chamisa only’,” read part of the police statement detailing circumstances behind the arrest of the opposition lot.
The arrests have been met with wide condemnation even among former Zanu PF allies who include exiled ex-cabinet ministers Jonathan Moyo and Walter Mzembi.
“It is wrong, unstrategic, and embarrassing for the State to be the complainant in such a frivolous and vexatious complaint whose damage to the public interests, stability, and cohesion of the State are incalculable!” Moyo said via his twitter handle.
Mzembi described the charges as hilarious.
“These charges or complaints by the State are as hilarious as it comes! They reduce us to a Kindergarten State particularly no 6! Let’s get serious with State business folks it costs money and resources to detain & prosecute citizens. Aiwaka!” he said.
Commenting on the arrest of party activists Saturday, CCC leader Nelson Chamisa described the persecution of his allies as “the last kicks” of a Zanu PF regime he vowed to defeat in polls due later this year.
