Twenty-six members of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) who were arrested in Budiriro have been granted bail by Harare Magistrate Yeukai Dzuda.
The activists who are from Budidido were granted ZWL$30 000 each while two of the accused, one aged 81 and another aged 72 years were granted free bail. They were all remanded to 3 February 2023.
CCC national spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere, announced the development. In a Twitter post seen by Pindula News, Mahere said:
BREAKING: The #Budiriro26 have been granted bail by the Magistrates’ Court. They are to pay 30K bail each, report to police once a week and not interfere with witnesses. Thank you to all citizens who flooded the court in solidarity with our change champions.
Mahere said the party was not celebrating the activists’ release. She said:
We don’t celebrate the release of the #Budiriro26. They should never have been arrested in the first place. How can we celebrate 2 weeks of abuse that led to our members contracting Covid in jail? It’s not a crime to say “Ngaapinde Hake Mukomana.” We will not stop saying it!
They were arrested almost a fortnight ago when they intended to hold “an unsanctioned” meeting at the house of Costa Machingauta, the opposition MDC Alliance Member of Parliament for Budiriro.
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”.
Members of ZRP Budiriro received a tip-off that the accused were gathered and went to investigate.
Police say upon arrival at Machingauta’s house, officers observed that the accused’s conduct was disturbing the peace of a section of members of the public.
CCC organising secretary Amos Chibaya and Machingauta were among those arrested.
In other news – Detained CCC activists denied food by ZPCS officials
The lawyer representing the 27 arrested Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activists, Chris Mhike yesterday told the court that his clients were denied food by the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) officials.
Submitting complaints before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi, Mhike said his clients did not eat anything since 0600am to 0500pm yesterday after prison authorities blocked their relatives from giving them food.Learn More
