Six school children arrested over protests in Bulawayo
By Tatenda Dewa
Zimbabwean police arrested six children for allegedly taking part in recent protests against President Robert Mugabe’s rule.
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) described the development as a new low for the country in a statement that just after a video showing police details trouncing a woman as her child wails during the protests has just gone viral on social media platforms.
“Zimbabwean authorities have charged six school children for allegedly committing public violence in a development, which marks a new low for the troubled southern African country,” said ZLHR.
The six school children who include a primary school pupil and are enrolled at three schools in Bulawayo were arrested last Saturday before being released into the custody of their parents and guardians.
They appeared at the Bulawayo magistrates’ court on Monday, facing charges of committing public violence.
Prosecutors alleged that the six school children participated in an anti-government protest held on Wednesday, 6 July 2016, together with 500 other protesters who blocked roads in Bulawayo’s high density suburb of Luveve using boulders, and burnt tyres during the demonstration.
The prosecutors also claimed that the school children looted groceries from a Mzilikazi supermarket owned by one Tapiwa Kapota.
The six juveniles were represented by Lizwe Jamela and Jonathan Tsvangirai of ZLHR.
They were granted free bail and remanded to 28 July. Nehanda Radio
