THE 15 anti-government activists arrested at Africa Unity Square in Harare last week on robbery and obstructing the course of justice charges, yesterday had their bail reduced from between $500 and $1 000 to between $200 and $400 each.
BY DESMOND CHINGARANDE
Provincial magistrate Tendai Mahwe had initially ordered them to pay bail ranging between $500 and $1 000, but later revised it after the activists failed to raise the money.
Partson Dzamara (30), Oliver Chikumba (32), Tatenda Mombeyarara (33), Pride Mukono (26) and Makomborero Haruzivishe (33) were ordered to pay $400 each, while the other 10 will pay $200 each after their lawyer Trust Maanda argued his clients could not afford the excessive bail amounts.
“The maximum bail the accused can pay is $50 since most of them are not employed and some rely on vending,” Maanda said.
“Dzamara looks after his ill mother, one of the accused is a final year student at the University of Zimbabwe and the other is a widow who has five children to look after.”
According to the State, Dzamara and his alleged four accomplices waylaid Nomsa Dube and Angela Chuma as they were passing through Africa Unity Square at night and robbed them of cash and some clothes.
Their other 10 collegues are being accused of obstructing the course of justice.
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