Magistrate Colleta Ncube on Wednesday, 04 September, acquitted Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) interim leader Jameson Timba and 77 other party activists of charges related to disorderly conduct.
The CCC activists had been detained for three months following their arrest in June at Timba’s residence.
According to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), the “persecution” of these opposition activists has faced a “spectacular collapse.” ZLHR said:
The persecution and prosecution of Senator Timba and 77 Harare residents has suffered a spectacular collapse after Magistrate Colleta Ncube acquitted them of disorderly conduct charges having spent 3 months in prison detention following their arrest in June at Senator Timba’s residence.
The CCC activists were arrested at Timba’s house where they were commemorating the International Day of the African Child on 16 June 2024.
On 17 June, police charged the detainees with “gathering with intent to promote public violence and disorderly conduct.”
Meanwhile, ZLHR executive director Roselyn Hanzi said the acquittal of the accused persons on disorderly conduct charges by Harare magistrate Collet Ncube does not guarantee their release from detention. She elaborated in a post on X:
Of the 78 people arrested, only 12 have been discharged of all the crimes they were accused of, being charge of (i) Disorderly Conduct or in the alternatively (ii) Participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of the peace or bigotry.
65 who include Jameson Timba will proceed to defence case on charge of “Participating in a gathering….” the trial of the 66th person is yet to commence as she was severely injured during the arrest.
Her trial is yet to commence after the procedure of separation of trial was invoked when she was hospitalised.
The accused persons listed below have been released after Ncube: “Taking into account that it was a gathering which attracted people who did not reside at the premises, also considering that there was pandemonium, it creates a prima facie case.”
- Resca Munetsi, accused 10 who was collecting money in Avondale.
- Violet Chitsindi who had visited a friend.
- Simon Size who was looking for piece jobs.
- Calvin Charumapasi, a vendor.
- Redeem Mandizvidza who was distributing fliers.
- Tatenda Mukwembi, a driver.
- Tawanda Mukucha Prince Madhena, who was at the local shops.
- Wisdom Nyama, who was passing by Timba’s house.
- Tobias Mangwayana, a vendor.
- Lucia Kandemiiri, a tenant at Timba’s residence.
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