GWANDA — The three Media Monitoring Project Zimbabwe (MMPZ) advocacy officers arrested on allegations of distributing subversive material were spending their eighth day in remand prison yesterday as the Attorney-General was yet to challenge a ruling granting them bail.
Last Friday, the trio briefly tasted freedom after Gwanda magistrate Douglas Zvenyika granted them $50 bail each.
But the State immediately invoked section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence, to prolong their stay in custody. Section 121 suspends bail for seven working days, to allow the State to appeal against granting of bail at the High Court.
Fadzai December, Molly Chimhanda and Gilbert Mabusa are being represented by Kossam Ncube, Lison Ncube and Rose Hanzi of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.
“There is nothing (concerning their release) because they (Attorney-General’s Office) have to file to the papers with the High Court and serve us, as soon as they file them,” Ncube said.
“At the moment we have not received anything. As it stands if the State does not file the appeal it means our clients will move out of prison on Tuesday next week.”
