MASVINGO, Aug.4 (Southern Eye Live) - Bhekimpilo Mbedzi, the Matabeleland South chairperson of the National Democratic Working Group was on Monday granted $200 bail by a Masvingo High Court judge.
Mbedzi was arrested on July 10 for allegedly inciting the public to engage in an unlawful gathering ahead of the July 31 protests organised by the pressure group. The NDWG wanted the public to demonstrate against the enactment of theConstitutional Amendment Act 3.
"We had filed an application for bail in the Masvingo High Court and it was granted. When we went to Beitbridge Court on Monday, the magistrate had further remanded him in custody and the lawyers informed the magistrate that his client had since been granted bail by the High Court," said NDWG spokesperson Sinenkosi Moyo.
"We are currently completing the paperwork for his release."
In granting him bail, the upper court averred that the magistrate had misdirected himself by concluding that releasing the appellant would prejudice the interests of justice.
“The presumption of innocence operates in his favour. He cannot be refused bail without valid reasons,” the court ruled.
He was ordered to reside at the given residential address in Dulibadzimo, surrender his passport to the clerk of court and report to Beitbridge Police Station twice a week, until the conclusion of the case.
The court further ordered the appellant not to interfere with State witnesses or police investigations.
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He was represented by a lawyer from Tererai Legal Practice.
