#Tajamuka leader Promise Mkwananzi released on $100 bail
By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |
Promise Mkwananzi, a citizen activist and national spokesperson of #Tajamuka, a protest group, was on Wednesday released from prison on $100 bail.
High Court judge, Happias Zhou, released him together with Bruce Usvisvo, another activist who got his freedom on $50 bail.
The two were among civil protestors who were arrested and charged with inciting and committing public violence and destroying property during a demonstration against police brutality on 24 August.
The march was organised by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) youth wing.
It turned violent when police descended on the marchers and beat them up with truncheons, fired teargas at and used water cannons on them.
The two activists were ordered to surrender their passports, report at the Harare Central Police Station Law and Order section once every Friday, reside at the addresses given to the court and not to interfere with State witnesses as part of their bail conditions.
They were represented by Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights’ Tonderai Bhatasara.
They were initially denied bail when they appeared before the magistrates court in Harare, compelling them to appeal at the High Court.
Meanwhile, the bail hearing of 68 other activists who were arrested during a subsequent demonstration to push for electoral reforms will be heard tomorrow (Thursday).
The demonstration was organised by 18 political parties and civil society representatives and police defied a High Court by descending heavily on the demonstrators, torching running battles with the protesters.
The police have twice attempted to ban protests in Harare.
The first ban was deemed unprocedural by the courts and political parties making up the National Electoral Reform Agenda (NERA) have vowed to defy the second one which came early this week.
Douglas Mwonzora, the chairperson of the NERA legal committee, has issued a statement indicating that their second demonstration planned for Saturday will go ahead despite the ban, which he said was merely a notice of intention to stop more protests in central Harare. Nehanda Radio
