Source: Protestors still jailed, can’t pay $100 bail – Newzimbabwe 14/07/2016
SOME 58 protestors arrested during the recent Harare demonstration against police road are still languishing in remand prison after failing to pay the $100 bail imposed by the courts.
Last Monday, some Harare kombi operators staged a protest against the widely condemned and innumerate ZRP roadblocks which are seen as a fund-raising scheme by the cash-strapped government.
Over one hundred people were arrested following clashes with riot police in areas such as Epworth and Ruwa.
On Thursday, lawyers for those still detained approached Harare magistrate Vakai Chikwekwe seeking to have their clients’ bail reduced to $20.
One of the attorneys, Trust Maanda, also sought to have reporting conditions for one college student at Bindura University varied.
He also requested the court to alter reporting conditions for one of the suspects, Gradual Chareka, who is still bed ridden in hospital.
“The 58 (detainees) are from Ruwa and Epworth. They have failed to pay their bail despite consecutive efforts to do so,” said Maanda.
Magistrate Chikwekwe eased the bail fee for all the protestors to $50 per person and also altered reporting conditions for the student.
The 58 are part of 105 protestors arrested during the demonstrating. Four of them are juveniles.
They all face public violence charges and allegedly destroying property worth $500,000. They are expected back in court on July 28.
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