MDC-A members granted bail

SEVEN MDC Alliance members, among them the party chairperson Thabitha Khumalo and Senator Helen Zivira Mpofu who were arrested in Bulawayo at the weekend for allegedly distributing fliers for their planned demonstration, were yesterday released on $200 bail each.

Khumalo (58), Mpofu (44), Tendai Masotsha (45), Elliot Mujeri (34), Tinashe Matimbura (28), Meliqiniso Sithole (42) and Shelton Tembo (35) appeared before Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tinashe Tashaya facing charges of publishing or communicating false statements prejudicial to the State.

They were remanded out of custody to September 3, ordered not to interfere with witnesses and to report once a week at Bulawayo Central Police Station as part of their bail conditions.

Mr Tashaya ruled that bail was a constitutional right which could only be denied when there are compelling reasons warranting further detention of the accused persons.

In his application for bail, Mr Godfrey Nyoni of Nyoni and Moyo Legal Practitioners argued that his clients were proper candidates for bail. He said there were no compelling reasons to deny them bail.

He said Matimbura had asked for a lift, Mujeri had been hired as a driver and Masotsha had an issue to discuss with Khumalo pertaining to a report he had made at Southampton police.

Mr Nyoni said allegations by the State were unfounded as the party had emphasised that the demonstrations were meant to be peaceful.

The State had opposed bail with the investigating officer Mr Roy Mushayi alleging the accused persons had already incited public violence. He said some members of the party had barricaded roads in Tshabalala and Nkulumane in response to the demonstrations’ call.

The prosecutor, Mr Leonard Chile argued that if granted bail, the accused persons were likely repeat the January violent protests.

Mr Chile said on August 17, the accused persons using a grey Ford Ranger and acting in common purpose went around Tshabalala and Nkulumane distributing fliers titled Free Zimbabwe campaign.

“The fliers which were addressed to all Zimbabweans, asserted that the 2018 harmonised elections were stolen whilst they knew that such information was false,” said Mr Chile.

The offence was discovered by police leading to the arrest of the accused persons and recovery of the fliers. — @mashnets