KWEKWE — The two Zanu PF activists arrested last Wednesday after they allegedly gate-crashed an MDC-T rally in Mbizo will have to wait until tomorrow for their bail ruling.
Report by Blessed Mhlanga
The pair of Blessing Chikwira and Libson Jaure, represented by Kwekwe lawyer Valentine Mutatu, has been in remand prison since last week after the State opposed their bail application arguing their release would send a wrong signal to other would-be perpetrators of political violence.
Kwekwe magistrate Taurai Manwere yesterday postponed the bail ruling to tomorrow after defence lawyer Mutatu argued that his clients were suitable candidates for bail since the crime they were facing was minor.
Prosecutor Salome Maunganidze told the court that Chikwira, who was arrested while charging towards MDC-T secretary-general Tendai Biti wielding a homemade knife, had a documented history of violence.
According to the State, Chikwira has been convicted of domestic violence in the past and has a pending case of violent robbery, among other cases. Meanwhile, police have released four .
MDC-T activists who were arrested last Friday pending investigations into allegations of assaulting Chikwira and Jaure during the skirmishes at the rally. MDC-T lawyer Reginald Chidawanyika confirmed that his clients — Searchmore Muringani, Alex Senge, Malvin Chivhu and Ngoni Tinarwo — were released after the court ordered police detectives to put their papers in order.
“They have been released and will be called by ways of summons if there is need, but what is worrisome is that the police made a complaint on behalf of the alleged victims. Chikwira and Jaure had not made the report, one just wonders why,” said Chidawanyika.
