Justice Mangota expose ruthless State, says PDP

Opposition People's Democratic Party has condemned the state for wantonly abusing the constitution after locking up Linda Masarira for three months in remand prison.

At one point Masarira was thrown into the notorious male section of Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.

High Court judge David Mangota ordered her release today.

PDP's  Women's Assembly Chairperson Evelyn Masaiti  applauded "the courts for upholding the Constitution and ordering the immediate release of human rights defender, Linda Masarira," she said in a statement.

"Her continued incarceration and denial of bail were a total abuse of the Constitution by the state.  For over three months, Masarira was denied her freedom while her young children were living without the support of their mother because of a ruthless regime.

"The abuse of the Constitution by the state was also further exposed today by High Court judge, Justice David Mangota who in granting Linda bail, expressed his anger on the illegality of her arrest, her illegal detention in prison and that the police were out of order.

"As the PDP we are pleased in that the courts remain brave and continue to uphold the Constitution despite unjustified threats by Zanu PF's Robert Mugabe," she said in a statement.