According to his lawyers, the conviction itself is controversial as it is based on circumstantial evidence. He was convicted of resisting the arrest of a police officer who gave evidence that he was not the one who arrested Mako.
The court further convicted him of inciting violence because he was at Chicken Inn, First Street on a day vendors had running battles with the police, as they often do when they’re attacked for “illegal vending”. He was not part of the protesting vendors.
With no evidence connecting him to the vendors’ running battles, he was charged with inciting public violence. This is meant to send a chilling effect to our members & to silence dissent. We will pursue multiple strategies to challenge these threats to our democracy. #FreeMako
Makomborero, a pro-democracy campaigner, was arrested in February and charged with kidnapping, participating in a gathering with intent to commit public violence, and breaching peace or bigotry.
The state alleges that Makomborero, together with others, forced his way into Impala Motor Spares and detained employees whom they accused of causing the arrest of their colleague Takudzwa Ngadziore last year.
A number of MDC Alliance members including Cecilia Chimbiri and Joana Mamombe were arrested after they had picketed in Harare demanding the release of the former Zimbabwe National Students Union secretary-general.
More: MDC Alliance