Deputy Mayor and 26 MDC activists released on bail Wednesday

By Violet Gonda
18 March 2008

A Murambinda magistrate has granted bail to 27 MDC members, including the Deputy Mayor of Mutare, Admire Mukorera. The MDC MP for Makoni South, Pishai Muchauraya, said they were released after paying US$50 bail each.

The MDC members were the latest group of party supporters who were arrested in connection with violence that broke out in Buhera during the funeral of the Prime Minister’s wife, Susan.

The MDC said they had all been arrested during a door to door campaign against their supporters by the police. This was the second time that the Deputy Mayor of Mutare was arrested. He was first arrested on Saturday and released on Sunday. He is accused of having been seen with MDC activists involved in the alleged violence around the time of the funeral of Amai Susan Tsvangirai. The MDC denies this and says it is their supporters who had their homes burnt down when violence erupted in Buhera last week.

Although the 27 were released on bail on Wednesday, another 17 activists are still in custody in Rusape Remand Prison. They are also charged for public violence.

Meanwhile lawyers representing the remaining three political detainees in Harare, are expected to make an application for leave to appeal in the High Court on Thursday. Photo-journalist Shadreck Andrew Manyere, the MDC’s Security Director Chris Dhlamini and Ghandi Mudzingwa the Prime Minister’s former aide, are already waiting a bail appeal in the Supreme Court.

Lawyer Andrew Makoni said Thursday’s court hearing is a precursor to the actual bail hearing which will be held in the Supreme Court.

The MDC officials are both being held at the Avenues Clinic, while the photo-journalist is still in Chikurubi Maximum Security prison.

The Financial Gazette reported last week that the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) had summoned the co-ministers of Home Affairs Giles Mutsekwa and Kembo Mohadi to discuss the issue of the remaining detainees. Makoni said he also heard through the newspapers that a decision was reached between JOMIC and the Ministers, that the political detainees would be granted bail, but that had not happened yet.

Makoni said: “We didn’t get confirmation from either JOMIC members or from the Ministers themselves as to the position. We sought the audience of the AG’s office and they indicated that they are going ahead. They were not going to consent to any release. They await the ruling of the courts.”

The lawyer said there was political intervention that resulted in bail being granted to the other political detainees in Harare. He indicated that in the case of Jestina Mukoko and others, the AG’s office consented to bail because of an agreement which had been reached between the President and the Prime Minister.

Despite the power sharing agreement the victimisation of political opponents continues in Zimbabwe and at least 44 MDC members have been arrested in Manicaland province since Friday last week. Scores of civic and political activist, including Mukoko are still facing charges of banditry.

Senior MDC official Roy Bennett also faces charges of terrorism and banditry. The Deputy Agriculture Minister designate was remanded out of custody to 21st April when he appeared at the Mutare Magistrate's Court for a remand hearing. He had been released on bail late last week, after spending a month in prison.

The MDC said it “believes that the long delay in setting a remand date to 21 April is an attempt to psychologically intimidate Hon. Bennett, his family and the party.”