A Bulawayo political activist, Josphat Mzaca Ngulube appeared before a Bulawayo magistrate on Friday facing charges of contravening the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).
Ngulube was arrested on Wednesday with two others for allegedly staging an unsanctioned demonstration.
The 34-year-old activist was granted $100 bail by magistrate Franklin Mkhwananzi.
The State prosecutor, Rufaro Mageza told the court that on July 13, Ngulube submitted a notice to the police seeking to demonstrate on July 17. However, the notice was rejected for having been submitted on short notice. Said Mageza:
The regulating authority noted the accused had not given the 7-day notice as required by the law. He was contacted and advised that the time of notice was not in compliance with the law and so the route which they were to use amongst others was not started in their notice.
Ngulube was on 15 July summoned by police to the regulating officer’s office for discussions concerning the planned demonstration and he refused, Mageza alleged. He added:
On July 17 at around 12 midday at corner 10th Ave and Fort Street near Pick and Pay, Ngulube went ahead and convened a public demonstration where members of the public amounting to about 30 people gathered.