Court still to make decision on bail application by MDC detainees

By Lance Guma
18 July 2007

Seventeen MDC activists have now been locked up in remand prison for 114 days (4 months), while over 4 weeks have passed with the High Court failing to make a ruling on a bail application put forward by their lawyers. Alec Muchadehama expressed his frustration Wednesday saying the state was clearly determined to ensure his clients remain in custody. Up until now no trial date has been set with the MDC activists being remanded in custody to 13 August.

High Court Judge Lawrence Kamocha is the man currently sitting on the matter. Despite some of the detainees like Morgan Komichi needing urgent medical attention, every week the defence is told to expect a ruling the following week. Komichi failed to attend the last remand hearing because of ill health and Muchadehama says there has been no major improvement so far. Glen View Member of Parliament Paul Madzore is also among those in custody.

In March this year 32 opposition activists were arrested on charges of allegedly petrol bombing government targets with half that number facing separate charges of terrorist activity. After 60 days in detention the courts ordered the release of 14 activists due to lack of evidence. This left 18 in custody to face charges that they were involved in banditry training in South Africa. Two weeks ago George Chindare was released by the magistrate’s court in Harare after his charges were reduced from ‘supplying weapons’ to theft. He was granted Z$20 million bail.

The opposition argues that all the charges were trumped up to justify a brutal crackdown on its supporters. Hospital sources estimate 600 opposition activists were hospitalised during a countrywide crackdown by the security forces. Mounting evidence in the last 4 months suggests members of Mugabe’s elite presidential guard have been behind the majority of abductions and torture of activists.