Protestors from Friday’s #NERA demo remanded in custody

Over 63 protestors from Friday’s #NERA demonstration in Harare including #Tajamuka leader Promise Mkwananzi and trade unionist Gift Ostallos Siziba were on Saturday remanded in custody to Monday for their bail hearing.

According to reports “most of the accused are injured and bruised.”

Violence broke out on Friday when riot police fired teargas on the protestors despite a High Court judge allowing the march to proceed. A similar crackdown saw police teargas protestors on Wednesday when MDC youths protested against ongoing police brutality.

Mkwananzi was arrested for allegedly inciting violence during the Wednesday march that turned violent when riot police tear-gassed the protesters who responded by burning down a police truck and a Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation (ZBC) vehicle.

Siziba, an activist working as the public relations officer at Rural Teachers Union of Zimbabwe, was abducted by suspected plain clothes servicemen during protests that broke out in Harare on Friday. Lawyers later confirmed he was taken into police custody.

Meanwhile the registered owner of the vehicle that was used to abduct Siziba, has spoken out, saying he surrendered it to a former employee as part of an exit package.

Siziba was snatched from the protesting crowds and driven away in a silver Toyota Corolla registered as ABA 9705 near Fidelity Life Tower in the city centre.

Alfred Murumbi, took to Twitter on Friday to distance himself from the abduction.

An auto transfer agreement date 23 March 2013 shows that the 1997 model is now owned by one Clever Kamuriwo, a former employee of Aspire Electrical Devices based in the Workington industrial area in Harare.

Murumbi is the Aspire Electrical Devices managing director.

RTUZ on Friday said the yet to be identified abductors took away Siziba’s mobile phone, adding that the union had secured a voice recording of one of the abductors. Nehanda Radio