7 political detainees freed but 20 remain in custody

By Violet Gonda
7 June 2007

The courts on Thursday finally freed seven political detainees who have been in police custody for more than 60 days, facing charges of petrol bomb attacks. Defense lawyer Andrew Makoni said they were released after police dropped those charges. But 20 others, including Glen View MP Paul Madzore, are still in custody on second charges of receiving insurgency training in South Africa.
Most of the 32 MDC activists originally arrested had been in custody since March, after the government embarked on a vicious campaign against the MDC, who say this has been nothing more than a ploy to cripple the MDC ahead of the elections.
Those freed today include journalist Luke Tamborenyoka (now MDC information officer), Zebediah Juwaba, Brighton Matimba, Barnabus Ndira, Enock Mukudu and Nyasha Chikombe.
The lawyer said the defense team had successfully argued that there is no reasonable suspicion that the activists had committed any offence.
Ishmael and 3 others are still facing charges of petrol bombing ZANU PF’s Mbare and Chitungwiza offices. They are part of the 20 still in custody.
The lawyer said: “The rest are remaining in police custody because they were now facing other charges for contravening Section 25 of the Criminal Code. It is being alleged that they trained as terrorists, bandits and insurgents in South Africa.”
Makoni said this matter was not heard on Thursday because of time constraints and was deferred to the 11th of March. Government has constantly come up with excuses to delay the hearings.
There are other activists who are appearing on their own like Ian Makone, the Tsvangirai-MDC’s election strategists. He was released on bail last Wednesday and his case has been remanded to 21st June.
All the detainees were tortured while in police custody. MDC National Executive Member Morgan Komichi, who has been in a prison hospital ever since his arrest, was transferred to a private hospital on Wednesday after a court order.
Human rights groups have criticised the government for delaying the hearings of the detainees.