GWERU – Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu) president Pride Mukono was yesterday denied bail and detained for the next fortnight by a Gweru magistrate for contempt of court. REPORT BY OWN CORRESPONDENT
Mukono was arrested on November 1 on contempt of court charges after he failed to appear in court on charges of violating sections of the Public Order and Security Act.
The charges emanated from an unsanctioned demonstration at the Midlands State University last year over delayed payment of fees by government for students under the cadetship scheme. Mukono, who appeared before Gweru magistrate Kudakwashe Canady yesterday, was denied bail on the grounds that he had other pending cases and had failed to appear in court before.
Zinasu secretary-general Tryvine Musokeri, who was arrested on the same charges, was granted $50 bail. Mukono will appear in court on November 21 for initial remand. Recently, three other students, including former MSU Students Representative Council president Believe Tevera, were also detained at Hwahwa, but were later released.