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MDC MP finally granted bail after spending more than one week in custody
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
April 23, 2009

A Chipinge Magistrate on Wednesday 22 April 2009 granted bail to Chipinge East Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Member of Parliament Honourable Mathias Mlambo, who was arrested during the Easter holidays for allegedly defeating and obstructing a police officer during the discharge of his duties.

The Magistrate only identified as Zuze ordered Honourable Mlambo to pay US$20 as bail money and to continue to reside at his given address and not to interfere with State witnesses. Honourable Mlambo was arrested on 11 April 2009 at the funeral wake of one of the MDC member in Chipinge, Manicaland, where some members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) raided the funeral in search of an unidentified "suspect".

The police accuse Honourable Mlambo of inciting some MDC youth members during his address and who became hostile during the funeral. The police also allege that the hostility exhibited by the MDC youths threw a monkey wrench in the works as they failed to execute their duties, ie arresting their unidentified "suspect".

Honourable Mlambo first appeared in court on 14 April 2009 and he was remanded in custody to 17 April, where Magistrate Zuze indicated that he was not ready to deliver his ruling until Wednesday 22 April 2009, when he finally granted bail to the MDC legislator.

Honourable Mlambo will now stand trial on 4 May 2009.

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