HARARE – Twenty-seven MDC Alliance activists arrested last Thursday on charges of public violence will endure another night in prison after a Harare magistrate postponed a bail ruling to Tuesday.
This was after prosecutor Michael Reza opposed granting of bail to the accused saying the suspects were responsible for the death of six people who were shot by soldiers during last week’s protests.
Reza alleged there was direct links connecting the accused to the crime.
“Six people died because of the accused people’s actions and some lost their property. There is a direct link with each one of the accused people. They have more muscles than brains and they chose to use violence to settle issues instead of using the law,” said the prosecutor.
The prosecutor also said the suspects were likely to flee considering they are facing serious charges.
“These are people who knew the police were looking for them. Instead of surrendering themselves they went and sought refuge at Harvest House (MDC HQ). Some of the suspects were caught setting cars on fire and some were seen stoning police officers and we have the evidence.
“The state is saying these are people who have unfinished business outside. To them what they did already, is a minor disturbance and they want to be outside so that they can finish their business,” he said.
Reza said the political environment was still “volatile.”
“Even today there was communication for people to abscond work on social media and the police had to issue a statement advising otherwise,” said Reza.
The activists are denying the charges.
According to their lawyers, over half of the suspects are employed by MDC Alliance as caretakers, security officers and general hands.
Some, according to the lawyers, were the party’s poll agents who were deployed in Uzumba- Maramba-Pfungwe (UMP).
“The accused will state that they had just arrived from UMP and were surrendering returns (polling data) at Harvest House and collecting transport and food allowances. They sought refuge at Harvest House after soldiers opened fire at civilians,” said their lawyer.
One suspect, Angeline Mukoki, was an observer and was on duty when she was caught in a dragnet arrest, the lawyers said.
One, Simbarashe Mujeyi, was arrested on behalf of his boss, Happymore Chidziva, the Highfields West MP and MDC youth leader who has so far eluded arrest.
“He was told that he will only be released if he discloses Chidziva’s whereabouts,” said the lawyer.
Mujeyi was Chidziva’s campaign manager.
Another suspect, Ngonidzashe Makazhu, said he had gone to Harvest House to congratulate MDC Alliance principal Tendai Biti for becoming Harare East MP.
The 27 were arrested after an August 1 protest against the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) ended in bloody scenes when soldiers opened fire on marchers, killing seven people and wounding over a dozen others.
The police and army blame the MDC activists for the killings which have drawn international condemnation and ruined Zimbabwe’s chances of having international sanctions lifted.
