Four MDC Activists Released, Eight Still Remain In Custody

The MDC said eight of their activists are still remanded in custody from a total of 24 supporters who were arrested after police inspector; Petros Mutedza was murdered after a brawl at a beer drinking pub in Glenview surburb, Harare. The MDC argues the allegations are baseless.

“Four MDC members including Councillor Oddrey Sydney Chirombe were today granted bail at the High Court,” the MDC said Friday.

“The members granted bail today are; Jefias Moyo, Abina Rutsito and Tendai Chinyama.  Councillor Chirombe, Rutsito and Moyo were granted a US$100 bail each while Chinyama was given a US$300 bail by Justice Felistus Chatukuta. Moyo and Rutsito are MDC employees.”

Twelve MDC members including Last Maengahama, a member of the MDC National Executive Council were granted bail last week Friday. 

“Eight more MDC members still in remand prison.  They are; Councillor Tungamirai Madzokere of Ward 32 Glen View, Rebecca Mafukeni, Yvonne Musarurwa, Cynthia Manjoro, Edson Maengahama, Lazarus Maengahama, Lloyd Chitanda, Stenford Mangwiro and Phineas Nhatarikwa,” the party said.

In a related case, Oliver Mukombwe, the MDC Bindura district treasurer was remanded in custody after the State invoked the draconian invoked the notorious Section 121 of the Criminal Evidence and Procedure Act (CPEA), the party said.

Mukombwe is facing charges of undermining police authority appeared at the Bindura Magistrate’s court on Wednesday and was granted a US$20 bail.  However, the State invoked Section 121 of the CPEA, which suspends the bail order for seven days pending the filing of an appeal by the State at the High Court.

The MDC which is led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has been complaining that their supporters are targeted by state security institutions. The party says the institutions support President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu (PF) party.

In the Global Political Agreement (GPA) discussions, the two main parties, Zanu PF and MDC are heavily disagreeing on the need for security sector reforms. The MDC wants state security institutions to be answerable to parliament so that their operations are monitored.