News / Local
86 demonstrators appear in court
09 Jul 2016 at 07:07hrs | Views
A TOTAL of 86 men including two juveniles yesterday appeared in court facing charges of engaging in violent demonstrations and looting from a supermarket in Bulawayo on Wednesday.
The accused from different suburbs in Bulawayo appeared before Ms Eveline Mashavakure and all pleaded not guilty. They were remanded in custody to Monday for bail ruling.
Last night, officials were grappling with logistics to accommodate the suspects. An official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the group was too large to be accommodated at Bulawayo Prison.
Prison officials said they had no transport to take them to Khami Prison on the outskirts of Bulawayo. Their legal representatives, five Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights led by Mr Tanaka Muganyi told Ms Mashavakure that it was the accused persons' right to be granted bail pending trial.
The five lawyers took turns to justify why they felt that the 86, all said to be unemployed by the investigating officer, deserved bail. "As the investigating officer said, accused persons are unemployed and are unlikely to abscond given that they can't even feed themselves. We believe accused persons facing serious allegations like murder and treason in the past have been granted bail," said Mr Lison Ncube.
Prosecuting, Mr Taurai Hondoyemoto said he was opposed to bail citing that the 86 are likely to interfere with evidence and State witnesses. "Accused persons are likely to commit other offences and we also fear that public safety will be under threat if they are granted bail," he said.
Mr Hondoyemoto alleges that the 86 burnt tyres along Luveve Road on Wednesday obstructing free movement of traffic. "They proceeded to a shop along Lobengula Avenue, broke into it and looted various property including bicycle tyres. They also stoned a police vehicle," he said.
In a separate court, the lawyers including Mr Jonathan Tsvangirai and Mr Jabulani Mhlanga represented four more accused persons who were facing a charge of criminal nuisance. The State alleged that the four political activists were caught carrying placards written 'Mugabe Must Go' and at the same time they were singing that ''Mugabe must go,'' thereby interfering with the public's peace and convenience at Corner 8th Avenue and J.M Nkomo.
Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tawanda Muchemwa ordered them to pay $40 bail each and remanded them to July 13 for trial.
The accused from different suburbs in Bulawayo appeared before Ms Eveline Mashavakure and all pleaded not guilty. They were remanded in custody to Monday for bail ruling.
Last night, officials were grappling with logistics to accommodate the suspects. An official who spoke on condition of anonymity said the group was too large to be accommodated at Bulawayo Prison.
Prison officials said they had no transport to take them to Khami Prison on the outskirts of Bulawayo. Their legal representatives, five Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights led by Mr Tanaka Muganyi told Ms Mashavakure that it was the accused persons' right to be granted bail pending trial.
Prosecuting, Mr Taurai Hondoyemoto said he was opposed to bail citing that the 86 are likely to interfere with evidence and State witnesses. "Accused persons are likely to commit other offences and we also fear that public safety will be under threat if they are granted bail," he said.
Mr Hondoyemoto alleges that the 86 burnt tyres along Luveve Road on Wednesday obstructing free movement of traffic. "They proceeded to a shop along Lobengula Avenue, broke into it and looted various property including bicycle tyres. They also stoned a police vehicle," he said.
In a separate court, the lawyers including Mr Jonathan Tsvangirai and Mr Jabulani Mhlanga represented four more accused persons who were facing a charge of criminal nuisance. The State alleged that the four political activists were caught carrying placards written 'Mugabe Must Go' and at the same time they were singing that ''Mugabe must go,'' thereby interfering with the public's peace and convenience at Corner 8th Avenue and J.M Nkomo.
Bulawayo magistrate Mr Tawanda Muchemwa ordered them to pay $40 bail each and remanded them to July 13 for trial.
Source - Chronicle
