By Chantelle Muzanenhamo
Finally, eighty-nine individuals detained by police during anti-government protests on March 31 have been granted bail by the High Court. Justice Esther Muremba ordered their release, requiring each to pay US$100 in bail.
These suspects had spent about a month and a half in jail after their initial bail was denied by a magistrate. Other co-accused, who faced similar charges, had previously been granted bail by the High Court.
In her ruling, Justice Muremba allowed the appeal, overturning the magistrate’s decision to deny bail. The suspects are now required to deposit US$100 with the Clerk of Court at Harare Magistrates Court and reside at their listed addresses until the case is concluded. They are also ordered to report to designated police stations on a scheduled basis, with some reporting once every two weeks, until the matter is resolved.
Specifically, all suspects, except for Joseph Gatsi, Kudzanai Murungweni, Memory Dehwe, and Munyaradzi Kanonama, are to report every other Friday between 6 AM and 6 PM at CID Law and Order in Harare. The four exceptions are Gatsi at Chegutu Police Station, Murungweni at Sanyati Police Station, Dehwe at Rusape Police Station, and Kanonama at Glendale Police Station. They are all prohibited from interfering with ongoing investigations.
During the hearing, the judge criticized the National Prosecuting Authority, pointing out that the prosecutor’s docket was empty and lacked witness statements, raising questions about the strength of the case. The judge questioned the fairness of holding individuals in custody without sufficient evidence, suggesting charges might be withdrawn after prolonged detention.
Prosecutor Charles Muchemwa acknowledged that the lower court erred in denying bail and admitted there could be challenges in prosecuting the group due to the lack of evidence.