By Staff Reporter
Calls for the release of 77 imprisoned Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activists are growing louder as public outcry mounts against their continued detention. The activists were arrested on June 16 for allegedly participating in an unlawful gathering and disorderly conduct.
Despite spending a month behind bars, the 77 have been denied bail by both the Magistrates Court and High Court. Only three minors have been released.
Reacting to the second bail denial, Amnesty International Deputy Regional Director for East and Southern Africa, Khanyo Farise, condemned the government for the activists’ baseless detention.
“Zimbabwean authorities must immediately and unconditionally release the CCC opposition party members and drop all the charges against them. Their arbitrary, month-long detention is an outrage which must end now,” Farise said.
“This lengthy, baseless detention violates Zimbabwe’s Constitution and its international human rights obligations. Authorities must end the crackdown on civic space and ensure everyone can freely speak and gather peacefully without fear of arrest or torture and other ill-treatment.”
Farise added, “People face mounting restrictions to exercise their human rights, including the rights to freedom of expression, peaceful assembly, and association, ahead of the Southern African Development Community’s Heads of State and Government Summit in Harare scheduled for August.”
Meanwhile, on June 27, police dispersed a peaceful protest demanding the release of the detained CCC members. The following day, Information Minister Jenfan Muswere threatened opposition members and civil society organizations, warning that their days were numbered and that the government would apprehend anyone causing chaos and mayhem.
On June 29, police also arrested members of the National Democratic Working Group for allegedly participating in an unsanctioned gathering.
