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High Court releases Tsenengamu on $100 bail

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Former Zanu PF Mashonaland Central youth chairperson, Godfrey Tsenengamu, who is facing charges of subverting a constitutionally-elected government, was yesterday released on $100 bail after the State conceded the activist is a suitable candidate for bail despite facing serious allegations

Former Zanu PF Mashonaland Central youth chairperson, Godfrey Tsenengamu, who is facing charges of subverting a constitutionally-elected government, was yesterday released on $100 bail after the State conceded the activist is a suitable candidate for bail despite facing serious allegations.

BY CHARLES LAITON

High Court judge Justice Priscilla Chigumba said the State, represented by Tapiwa Kasema, had properly made concessions to the effect that Tsenengamu was not a flight risk.

The judge, however, reduced the amount of bail from $300, which the State had proposed and ordered him to also report to the police once every Friday, not to interfere with witnesses and to surrender travel documents.

“The State has made proper concessions in this matter that the applicant is a suitable candidate for bail, therefore, the applicant is ordered to deposit $100 with the Clerk of Court, Harare, to reside at given address, report every Friday, surrender travel documents and not to interfere with witnesses,” Justice Chigumba said.

Prior to the court’s ruling, Kasema had submitted that Tsenengamu “had produced evidence to discharge the onus on him to show that it was in the interest of justice for him to be released on bail”.

Tsenengamu was arrested last month after addressing journalists in the capital where he reportedly incited war veterans saying: “The ball is now in your hands, the war veterans, the same way you removed Sithole to replace him with Mugabe. We now want you to lead us so that Mnangagwa becomes the next party president, going forward.”

But in his response to the charge, he insisted President Robert Mugabe must retire to make way for his deputy, Emerson Mnangagwa, arguing such utterances have nothing to do with toppling the 93-year-old leader from power.

Tsenengamu said his remarks were mere political statements that had so far been misconstrued by the law enforcement agents, who have since sought to drag the government into simple party politics.

Tsenengamu said Mugabe was the Zanu PF leader, while Mnangagwa was also from the same party adding calls for Mugabe to step down in favour of his deputy should not be interpreted as calling for uprisings.

He was represented by Zivanai Macharaga.