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NewsDay

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Police arrest MDC-T activists

Politics
Police in Harare yesterday arrested 13 MDC-T activists at the High Court while protesting against the continued detention of eight party members who have been in remand prison since May. The placard-carrying demonstrators picketed in front of the High Court where they demanded the release of the activists who were arrested for allegedly murdering a […]

Police in Harare yesterday arrested 13 MDC-T activists at the High Court while protesting against the continued detention of eight party members who have been in remand prison since May.

The placard-carrying demonstrators picketed in front of the High Court where they demanded the release of the activists who were arrested for allegedly murdering a police officer, Inspector Petros Mutedza, at Glen View Shopping Centre. Police spokesperson Inspector James Sabau confirmed the arrests.

“The 13 were holding an illegal demonstration at the High Court which started at about 9:30am. They had placards (and) they had not applied to demonstrate,” Sabau told NewsDay.

But, MDC-T immediately condemned the arrests.

“The increase in the selective application and abuse of the existing legal instruments by the police to target civic society members and other members of society shows a deliberate attempt to muzzle freedom of association and favour a particular viewpoint which favours the sunset party, Zanu PF,” said the MDC-T.

Meanwhile, High Court judge Justice Samuel Kudya yesterday postponed the bail hearing of the MDC-T murder suspects for the second time this week to today, after Edmore Nyazamba from the Attorney-General’s Office failed to turn up as he was said to be off-sick.

The activists’ lawyer Tawanda Zhuwarara agreed to the postponement though he said he had not been served with the State response from Nyazamba.

The incarcerated eight are: Glen View ward 32 councillor Tungamirai Madzokere, Lazarus Maengahama, Stanford Maengahama, Phineas Nhatarikwa, Stanford Mangwiro, Yvonne Musarurwa, Rebecca Mafikeni and Cynthia Manjoro.

However, Justice Kudya granted bail to two other MDC–T activists Zwelibanzi Dube and Edwin Muingiri who had initially been granted bail by Justice Tendai Uchena early this month but were not released after failing to submit their passports.

They were granted $300 bail each, ordered to reside at their given addresses and report once a week to the police.