via Zim authorities set free Bulawayo agenda officials charged over POSA | The Zimbabwean 30 June 2014 by ZLHR
ZIMBABWEAN authorities on Monday 30 June 2014 set free four officials from Bulawayo Agenda arrested over the weekend for contravening some provisions of the country’s tough security laws after the intervention of human rights lawyers.
Four Bulawayo Agenda officials namely, Mmeli Dube, Butholezwe Kgosi Nyathi, Nthombiyezansi Mabunda Tozana and Thulani Moyo endured two nights in police custody in Victoria Falls, Matabeleland North province after they were arrested on Saturday 28 June 2014 and charged with contravening section 25 (1) (beer) of the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) for allegedly failing to notify the regulatory authority when they held a public meeting in the resort town.
But Dube, the Research, Information and Advocacy Officer, Nyathi, the Senior Programmes Officer, Tozana, the Community Organiser and Moyo were freed on Monday 30 June 2014 Victoria Falls by Magistrate Sheron Rosimani after their lawyer Thulani Nkala, a member of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights applied for their release on bail.
Dube, Nyathi and Tozana, who are all reside in Bulawayo were ordered to pay bail amounting to $100 while Moyo who is based in Victoria Falls paid $50. Magistrate Rosimani remanded the four Bulawayo Agenda officials to Thursday 31 July 2014. Prosecutor, Takunda Ndovori, of the National Prosecuting Authority represented the State.
ZLHR is concerned by the police’s obsession to continue curtailing citizens’ fundamental rights by abusing and using some provisions of POSA as the arrest of the Bulawayo Agenda officials contravenes Section 58 of the Constitution which guarantees freedom of assembly and association.
COMMENTS
The public are concerned that Zimbabwe organisations have yet to understand responsibility and respect for others rights and property. They are incapable of a peaceful demonstration, we read of violence all the time. Journalists obviously don’t read the papers they write about violence and think all is in control, really stupid. – we need POSA back to protect us from the irresponsible selfish members of these organisations.
What rock have you been living under? There’s a new constitution and POSA is unconstitutional. It’s a simple as that. People are now allowed to say what they want, whenever they want, and with whomever they want.
It is people like you we need protection from.
It can only happen on continents like the African Continent one law for those at the top who running the show and another law for those below them- the ordinary people