Protest leaders kept in leg irons

By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau |

Protest leaders, among them Promise Mkwananzi, the national spokesperson of #Tajamuka, are being kept in leg irons in jail, it has emerged.

Leg irons are reserved for dangerous criminals and the government has labelled civil activists, terrorists.

Mkwananzi was arrested and charged with public violence two weeks ago during a protest against police brutality.

Together with other protesters like Makomborero Haruzivishe, Pride Mkono and Kunashe Muchemwa, he has been languishing in prison since then and will on Friday approach the High Court to apply for his freedom.

Maureen Kademaunga, a human rights activist, on Thursday visited Chikurubi Maximum Prison outside Harare where Mkwananzi and other protesters are being held and later revealed in a Facebook post that she had found the activists in leg irons.

“I had to go to Chikurubi Maximum Prison to visit Promise Mkwananzi and other (comrades). I was only allowed a minute to pass on parcels and say hello.

“They were brought to the visiting window. Promise Mkwananzi, Makomborero Haruzivishe, Pride Mkono and Kunashe Muchemwa in leg irons. Exactly after 60 seconds I was ordered to walk away,” said Kademaunga.

Mkwananzi, who was among protesters who led successful protests against President Robert Mugabe’s government in July and later, has another pending case in which he is being accused of inciting public violence.

Hundreds of citizens have been arrested in the last two months as they demonstrated against corruption, an ailing economy and unpopular policies.

Linda Masarira, another civil activist who has been languishing in prison for more than two months, has been appearing at the Mbare magistrates court for allegedly obstructing the free flow of traffic during the July protests.

She will return to the same court today (Friday) as she bids for bail. Nehanda Radio