By Staff Reporter
Imprisoned Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activists face further detention after the High Court reserved their bail ruling.
The activists, who have already spent a month behind bars, were arrested on June 16 for allegedly participating in an unlawful gathering and disorderly conduct.
Denied bail by lower courts, their case is now before the High Court following an appeal.
High Court Judge Justice Munamato Mutevedzi, who presided over the hearing, postponed the activists’ bail ruling until Thursday after arguments from both sides were presented. The ruling was originally scheduled for today.
“This is an appeal, and it shouldn’t require much time to deliver the ruling,” Justice Mutevedzi stated. “The registrar will notify you when my judgment is ready. It should be no later than Thursday.”
The judge granted bail to one minor who was among the arrested, allowing their release. The remaining 77 activists are still in custody.
Following the court hearing, the activists’ lawyer, Agency Gumbo, spoke to journalists expressing hope for their release by Thursday.
“Bail is a constitutional right,” Gumbo argued. “We have maintained that their arrest was unlawful; they committed no crime and participated in no unlawful activity. Gathering in Zimbabwe is a constitutional right. We have the right to assemble and organize. As such, we are hopeful that the constitution will be upheld.”
