Zim authorities in fresh onslaught against pro-democracy campaigners

October 15, 2016

Source: Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights

HARARE Magistrate Bianca Makwande on Saturday 15 October 2016 ended the detention of six pro-democracy campaigners Patson Dzamara, Linda Masarira, Makomborero Haruzivishe, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Rangarirai Nhende and Leverage Masvondo by setting them free on $100 bail.
The six human rights campaigners who were arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers on Friday 14 October 2016 and charged with disorderly conduct as defined in Section 41 (b) of the Criminal (Law Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:23 appeared at Harare Magistrates Court on Saturday 15 October 2016, where their lawyer Obey Shava of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights successfully secured bail for them thereby ending their detention.

Prosecutors from the National Prosecuting Authority claimed that the pro-democracy campaigners who were gathered in Harare Gardens, a leisure park in the capital city allegedly abused and insulted some law enforcement agents by likening them to dogs and puppets of President Robert Mugabe’s administration.

Dzamara, Masarira, Haruzivishe, Mombeyarara, Nhende and Masvondo are scheduled to stand trial on Monday 17 October 2016 at Harare Magistrates Court.

Source: Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights

"The determined efforts, and spirited focus by Zimbabweans from all paths and circles of life against authoritarianism as epitomised by #Tajamuka, #ThisFlag, churches, political parties, individuals etc just transmits a 'zing' of confidence, hope and dawn of a new dispensation from my skull nerves to my balls right to the tip of my foot. Authoritarianism and the despotic dispensation are under electrocution."
- Adolf, Kubatana subscriber in reply to our question asking what keeps people inspired during these tough times

" It was good and permissible when the flag since 1980 was carried by every Harry and Tom to Rufaro Stadium or National Sports Stadium to support Zimbabwe's national team the Warriors. It is good and permissible when the flag is carried about by women and children flocking to the airport to routinely receive the President from his many foreign travels. It is good and permissible if the flag is mutilated and redesigned on the party regalia of the country's self-acclaimed LIFE RULING SINGLE PARTY. It is now bad and not permissible when it is carried by those who demand that the sacrifices of those who lost their lives and years in the liberation struggle be respected by those in power through fighting corruption; practising good governance; public accountability by bringing to book those who are responsible for the missing $15 billion diamond revenues; fiscal austerity by cutting down on the many annual trips the President embarks on; by cutting on extravagance through avoiding the purchase of expensive Range Rovers when the govt is very broke to the point of asking for financial help from those it says are destabilising the economy and country."
- Zvakwana Taneta