HARARE magistrate Vakai Chikwekwe yesterday granted $300 bail to MDC-T legislator Ronia Bunjira and six other party activists arrested on Monday on allegations of obstructing or endangering free movement of persons or traffic following a demonstration for jobs by youths in the city. Staff Reporter
But the State immediately involved Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence’s Act to veto the protesters’ bail order.
Chikwekwe had ordered the opposition legislator and six other protestors, namely Keith Charumbira, Stanley Manyenga, Bridget Nyandoro, Linnete Chibinya, Stewart Gwebe, Danmore Tshuma to reside at their given residential addresses and not to interfere with State witnesses until the matter is finalised.
But State prosecutor Barbra Ndoro invoked Section 121 of the Criminal Evidence and Procedure Act to suspend the bail order.
The MDC-T activists were represented by Obey Shava and Hopewell Chitima of Mbidzo, Makoni and Muchadehama Legal Practitioners.
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) condemned the “spiteful” and “groundless” actions of the State in vetoing the bail order. “This draconian piece of legislation is frequently abused to the prejudice of suspects as prosecutors are clearly usurping the powers of the judiciary who in this case had safeguarded the fundamental right to liberty of the accused persons,” ZLHR executive director Irene Petras said.
