News / National
Zimbabwe Judge orders the immediate release of Tsvangirai's aide
26 Jun 2011 at 12:07hrs | Views
A high court judge, Justice Joseph Musakwa, has ordered the immediate release of Jameson Timba a key aide to Prime Minister
Morgan Tsvangirai, two days after he was arrested for calling Mugabe a liar.
"There was a violation of his rights," high court judge Musakwa said.
"He was not informed of the charges he was facing. Assurances by the AG (attorney general's office) that he will be taken to court tomorrow does not cure that there are breaches of his rights. Therefore, there is no justification for his continued detention."
Timba, the minister of state in the prime minister's office, arrived in court in the morning accompanied by police but wearing his own clothes. He was being held at the St. Marys police station, Chitungwiza.
After his release, he told reporters that he had been denied food during his incarceration.
The hearing was held Sunday after Timba's lawyers won an order late Saturday compelling police to bring him to court to justify his continued detention.
The arrest came in the wake of protests from Mugabe loyalists who last week called for Tsvangirai to be arrested for undermining the office of the president.
"There was a violation of his rights," high court judge Musakwa said.
"He was not informed of the charges he was facing. Assurances by the AG (attorney general's office) that he will be taken to court tomorrow does not cure that there are breaches of his rights. Therefore, there is no justification for his continued detention."
After his release, he told reporters that he had been denied food during his incarceration.
The hearing was held Sunday after Timba's lawyers won an order late Saturday compelling police to bring him to court to justify his continued detention.
The arrest came in the wake of protests from Mugabe loyalists who last week called for Tsvangirai to be arrested for undermining the office of the president.
Source - Byo24News
