News / Local
Jim Kunaka granted $15,000 bail
12 Feb 2021 at 16:01hrs | Views
Ex-Zanu PF militant vigilante group Chipangano leader, political activist and National Patriotic front member Jim Kunaka was today granted ZW$15 000 bail by High Court Justice Tawanda Chitapi after 50 days in jail on allegations of plotting to incite public violence last August.
Justice Tawanda Chitapi, in freeing Jim Kunaka on bail, said he "read fear" in the eyes of prosecutor Richard Chikosha who had "no ammunition" to oppose the granting of bail but "unbelievably submitted that it was the position of the NPA not to concede anything."
The 42 year-old Kunaka was arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police members on 24 December 2020 who charged him with incitement to participate in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breach of peace or bigotry as defined in section 187(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act) as read with section 37(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act).
Kunaka, who is represented by Munyaradzai Bwanya of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), was also charged with contravening section 4 of Statutory Instrument 110 of 2020 Public Health (COVID-19) Prevention, Containment and Treatment (National Lockdown) Order, 2020 after he allegedly incited more than 50 people to gather without permission during the national lockdown period declared by government in a bid stop people from gathering in large numbers in a bid to curb the spread of coronavirus.
In court, prosecutors alleged that Kunaka posted some video messages on social media platforms between 1 March 2020 and 30 July 2020 inciting people across the country to participate in illegal demonstrations which were held on 31 July 2020. Kunaka, prosecutors charged, incited people to gather at Africa Unity Square during the time which government had declared a national lockdown period prohibiting people from gathering.
Justice Tawanda Chitapi, in freeing Jim Kunaka on bail, said he "read fear" in the eyes of prosecutor Richard Chikosha who had "no ammunition" to oppose the granting of bail but "unbelievably submitted that it was the position of the NPA not to concede anything."
The 42 year-old Kunaka was arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police members on 24 December 2020 who charged him with incitement to participate in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breach of peace or bigotry as defined in section 187(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act) as read with section 37(1)(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform Act).
In court, prosecutors alleged that Kunaka posted some video messages on social media platforms between 1 March 2020 and 30 July 2020 inciting people across the country to participate in illegal demonstrations which were held on 31 July 2020. Kunaka, prosecutors charged, incited people to gather at Africa Unity Square during the time which government had declared a national lockdown period prohibiting people from gathering.
Source - online
