The bail application hearing for the eight remaining MDC–T activists who were arrested for allegedly murdering police Inspector Petros Mutedza in Glen View Harare has been postponed to today.
High Court judge Justice Samuel Kudya made the decision at the request of Edmore Nyazamba of the Attorney-General’s Office, who said he needed more time to make his submissions in response to an application filed by the activist’s lawyers.
“May we have the matter postponed because I have not filed any submissions in response to the application,” said Nyazamba.
The High Court had set down a fresh bail hearing for yesterday after an application by the activists’ lawyers.
The eight are part of a group of 24 MDC-T activists arrested and charged with the cop’s murder at Glen View 3 Shopping Centre in May.
Earlier this month, Justice Tendai Uchena granted bail to 12 of the accused, but ruled that the other eight were unsuitable for bail.
The incarcerated eight are Tungamirai Madzokere, Lazarus Maengahama, Stanford Maengahama, Phineas Nhatarikwa, Stanford Mangwiro, Yvonne Musarurwa, Rebecca Mafikeni and Cynthia Manjoro.
The activists’ lawyers said the applicants were now petitioning the court to be admitted to bail under changed circumstances.
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“The first change in circumstances, which relates to all applicants, is the passage of time from the time of arrest to the initial denial of bail and the present application. The passage of time is coupled with the fact that the State has failed to strengthen the case against all the applicants. In fact the passage of time has actually brought to light further weakness in the State (case),” reads the application.
The police officer was stoned to death while attempting to disperse what the police said was an unsanctioned political gathering in the suburb.
