18 November 2008

Three members of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) were released from police custody yesterday after posting bail. However, seven NCA members remain in Mutare Remand Prison even though NCA staff has paid their bail.

All ten individuals were taken into police custody after participating in peaceful protest actions a week ago. One of the detainees was a pregnant woman who suffered a miscarriage after being beaten by police officers. This woman was denied medical attention for the six days she spent in police custody.

Yesterday, the detainees were charged with public violence and assigned a court date of December 1. The NCA Regional Officer for Manicaland paid bail for the individuals at the court. When the Regional Officer arrived at the Mutare Remand Prison to collect the detained individuals, prison officials refused to release seven of the NCA members, citing a technicality in the receipts issued by the court. All seven remain in Mutare Remand Prison.

The woman who suffered the miscarriage and the NCA Youth Chairperson for Manicaland, Manex Mauya, were among the three NCA members released yesterday.

To its members and other Zimbabweans who have been exposed to acts of violence and intimidation the NCA says: Do not give up. Keep up the fight. Freedom is on its way.

NCA Information and Publicity Department