PRO-DEMOCRACY CAMPAIGNERS SET FREE AFTER PROTEST AGAINST PROPOSED CONSTITUTIONAL AMENDMENTS
A ZIMBABWEAN court on Thursday 16 July 2020 granted bail to three pro-democracy campaigners who were arrested on Wednesday 15 July 2020 by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) members and charged them for allegedly protesting against some proposed amendments to the Constitution.
Magistrate Barbra Mateko set free Namatai Kwekweza aged 21 years, Youngerson Matete aged 29 years and Prince Gora aged 24 years, who were arrested by ZRP members in central Harare and charged with contravening section 37(1)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of the peace or bigotry.
Prosecutors charged that Kwekweza, Matete and Gora, who were represented by Nontokozo Tachiona-Dube of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, gathered at Africa Unity Square in Harare holding some placards with messages denouncing some proposed amendments to the Constitution.
Gora, prosecutors charged, used his mobile phone handset to record a video as they were marching towards Parliament Building.
Besides ordering Kwekweza, Matete and Gora to pay bail money, Magistrate Mateko also asked the trio to report once a week at various ZRP stations, not to interfere with state witnesses and to continue residing at their given residential addresses.
Kwekweza, Matete and Gora return to court in September, where their trial is expected to commence.
ENDS
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
Three Anti-constitutional Amendments Activists Granted ZWL$1 000 Bail Each {Full Text}
