GWERU — Two Zimbabwe Elections Support Network (ZESN) officials, detained over the weekend following arrest on charges of holding an unsanctioned public meeting, were released yesterday after the courts declined to prosecute them.
Report by Stephen Chadenga Own Correspendent
The two — Emmaculate Chiseya and Lucy Chivasa — were being charged for allegedly contravening Section 24 of the Public Order and Security Act.
Their lawyer Brian Dube told NewsDay yesterday the State declined to indict his clients arguing that the meeting that the pair held could not be classified as public.
“The prosecution said they will proceed by way of summons.”
Chiseya and Chivasa were initially arrested alongside 25 other participants while conducting a workshop at the Midlands Hotel last Friday. The other participants were later released same day while Chiseya and Chivasa remained in police custody.
In a statement, ZESN said it was disturbed by the arrests, especially at a time when the world was celebrating Human Rights Day.
“ZESN is disturbed by this arrest which comes as the world is commemorating the Human Rights Day whose theme is, Inclusion and the right to participate in public. The arrest is a direct violation of the fundamental right to freedom of association,” the organisation said.
