By Tatenda Dewa | Harare Bureau|
A Harare magistrate, Vongai Muchuchi, on Friday granted $50 bail to Ishmael Kauzani, a human rights activist who was arrested and charged for alleged public violence last month.
He was among the hundreds of youths who participated in a demonstration against police brutality on 24 August.
The march was organised by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) youth wing and it turned violent when police clamped down on the protesters using teargas, water cannons and baton sticks.
Muchuchi is being represented by Andrew Makoni, a board member at the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).
He was ordered to surrender his passport, report to the Law and Order section every Monday and Friday and not to interfere with witnesses.
The courts this week also granted bail to a group of protesters who were also arrested late last month and charged with inciting public violence.
They included Promise Mkwananzi, the national spokesperson of the #Tajamuka activist outfit that has been organising demonstrations against President Robert Mugabe’s government since July.
Last Friday, the courts also released another batch of civil protesters who are being accused of public violence during a 25 August march for electoral reforms, among them Kerina Gweshe.
According to recent #Tajamuka information, some 60 activists are still being held in prison for participating in the protests.
Activist Petros Sokole, Bulawayo MDC-T youth secretary, Kunashe Muchemwa, and others who also face public violence charges will spend the weekend in jail after being denied bail by the High Court, which will hear their application again on Tuesday.
The High Court also postponed to Monday, the bail hearing of Tinotenda Mhungu and others who were also arrested and charged with public violence over demonstrations last month.
They are being represented by ZLHR lawyers Jeremiah Bamu and Trust Maanda.
The European parliament on Wednesday demanded the immediate and unconditional release of the political prisoners so as to enable dialogue with President Robert Mugabe’s government and to avert civil unrest. Nehanda Radio
