HARARE – The bail ruling for Jameson Timba and 78 opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activists has been moved to June 27 after Magistrate Ruth Moyo expressed frustration over the failure of both the prosecution and defense to meet the deadline for submitting a consolidated record.
One of the women among those imprisoned lost her child and was denied permission to attend the funeral after the Magistrate postponed the bail ruling.
The Magistrate stated: “Let’s be fair. All of you failed to meet the deadline. Now you expect the court to hand down the ruling this afternoon. Is it fair?”
The 79 accused, including a minor and an individual with mental health concerns, were arraigned before the Harare Magistrates’ Court on charges related to participating in a gathering with the intent to promote violence, breaches of peace or bigotry, and disorderly conduct.
According to prosecutors, the accused persons gathered at a residence in Strathaven, Avondale West, Harare, on June 16, 2024, without authorisation, with the intention of holding an unlawful demonstration.
The police were alerted, and upon arrival, the accused allegedly became hostile and riotous, throwing stones at the police and their vehicle, resulting in injuries to two officers and damage to the police vehicle.
The accused were only arrested after the police used tear smoke to disperse the crowd. The minor was remanded into the custody of their guardian, while the individual with mental health concerns was dealt with in terms of section 26 of the Mental Health Act and will be held in custody pending an examination by two doctors.
The court will deliver its ruling on the bail application on June 27.
Dozens of people thronged the Magistrates Court in solidarity with the accused.
Fadzayi Mahere, a former Mt Pleasant legislator and an opposition leader leader argues that the arrest of Timba represents the “weaponisation of the legal system”.
“Senator Jameson Timba is not just a politician. He’s a community leader who commands the respect of many in civic society, business, education and beyond. He is many things and a criminal is not one of them.
“He’s behind bars for allowing young people to use his home for barbecue. His incarceration is a shameless weaponisation of the legal system by those who wish to silence him. He and the scores jailed with him are innocent. Free them now,” she said.
