Twenty-five members of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), who were arrested two weeks ago for holding a so-called illegal meeting in Harare’s Budiriro suburb, have been granted bail.
In a tweet, the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum said, “CCC supporters arrested in Budiriro on Jan 14 for “gathering with the intention to cause violence” have been granted bail. They were represented by Adv Wilbert Mandinde, Isheanesu Chirisa of the @ZimHRNGOForum working with Chris Mhike, instructed by Forum. They Forum team was supported by Kudzai Kadzere of the @ZLHRLawyers and Tamutswa Muzana.”
The activists were ordered to pay ZWL$30,000 each, report at a police station every Friday and not to interfere with witnesses.
Meanwhile, in a tweet, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights says Advocate Kudzai Kadzere, who allegedly fractured his arm when police beat him up in Budiriro where he was representing the CCC activists, has been asked to appear in court to face charges of resisting arrest and related issues.
“In a shocking & surprise turn of events, human rights lawyer @adv_kadzere who is a victim of police brutality, has now been turned into a perpetrator of violence as he has been charged with assaulting & or resisting a police officer. Kadzere, has been summoned to appear at Mbare Magistrates Court on Monday 30 January to answer to charges of assaulting or resisting a peace officer, criminal nuisance & escaping from lawful custody.”
VOA Correspondent Frank Chikowore contributed to this article
More details to follow …