Arrested activists appear in court, bail and medical treatment denied

By Lance Guma
03 April 2007

Several opposition activists appeared at the magistrates in Harare as the overwhelmed judicial system continued to process the hundreds who were arrested last week in a government crackdown. The exact number of those arrested is unknown and lawyers say they will have a clearer picture once everyone is brought to court. Tafadzwa Mugabe from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said a total of 24 applications were dismissed on Tuesday with only 1 being reserved to Wednesday.

It’s thought hundreds of opposition activists are still in police custody and remand prison following countrywide arrests by the security forces who allege a petrol bombing campaign by the MDC on police stations. Eight opposition officials and activists were abducted from their hospital beds and taken to prison late night on Saturday including the MDC Glen View Member of Parliament Paul Madzore, National Executive member Ian Makone, plus former Daily News journalist and now MDC information officer Luke Tamborinyoka.

Tafadzwa Mugabe told Newsreel they are still being denied medical treatment despite some of them being in a critical condition. MP Madzore, Shame Wakatama and Ian Makone are said to have collapsed while awaiting a bail application at the weekend. Some of those abducted from hospital were on intravenous drips and concern is growing that the prison environment will worsen their condition.