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Process as important as the outcome, funding partners
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
June 21, 2010

The bail hearing of the Centre for Research and Development Director Farai Maguwu has been scheduled for 9am Wednesday 16 June at the High Court.

Maguwu has been in police custody for nearly two weeks on charges of allegedly communicating and publishing falsehoods in contravention of Section 31 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. He last appeared in court appealing to a Harare Magistrate last week Thursday for his case to be taken to the High Court and he was denied bail.

Soon after he was denied bail, the CRD director was secretly taken from the remand prison by the Law and order section of the police, without notifying his legal representatives of family members. Human Rights lawyers Ms Beatrice Mtetwa and Trust Maanda were however able to locate him at the Matapi police station where he was being interrogated.

According to the defense team, Detective Inspector Dowa, who is notorious for torturing people and currently facing civil suits for prior human rights abuses, was the brain behind Maguwu's transfer to Matapi. Maguwu's lawyers were however able to negotiate for him to be transferred to the Harare Police Station where he is currently being detained.

The defence attorney says Maguwu has been denied any visiting rights, his lawyers and family cannot even visit him. Despite the bad living conditions and Maguwu's health problems, the police continue to refuse to send him back to the remand prison where conditions are better.

ZimRights calls on all Human Rights activists to stand in solidarity tomorrow at the High court to support Maguwu during this trying moment. Our fellow comrade's circumstance of arrest is yet another example of the country's corrupt legal system and the ned for more work to be done towards democracy. Lets join together in the struggle towards putting an end to the continued unwarranted arrests of human rights defenders and activists.

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