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Media lawyer released on bail
MISA-Zimbabwe
May 15, 2009

Harare Magistrate Archie Wochiunga on 15 May 2009 granted prominent media and human rights lawyer, Alec Muchadehama bail of US 100 and remanded him out of custody to the 28 May 2009.

The State represented by Prosecutor Public Mpofu did not oppose the bail application made by Muchadehama's lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa.

Muchadehama who is charged for obstructing the course of justice in terms of Section 184(1) of the Criminal Law Codification and (Reform) Act was also asked to report to the police once a week before appearing on 28 May 2009.

Meanwhile, the Law Society of Zimbabwe convened an urgent meeting of its members today at 1245hrs to deliberate on the issue of Muchadehama's arrest which they described as constituting harassment of members of the legal fraternity.

The members resolved to petition the Minister of Justice, the Chief Justice, The Home Affairs Minister and the Attorney General; a protest march is scheduled for Tuesday.

Background

The charges arise from allegations that Muchadehama connived with Justice Bhunu's clerk in facilitating the release on bail of freelance photojournalist, Shadreck Andrisson Manyere from Chikurubi Maximum Prison and Movement for Democratic Change activists Kisimusi Dhlamini and Ghandi Mudzingwa who were under hospital detention at the Avenues Clinic. They were release on 17 April 2009.

Muchadehama was picked up on14 May 2009 from the Magistrates court around 1000hrs by officials from the Harare Central Police Law and Order Section where he spent the whole day and was later moved to Braeside police station where he was detained overnight.

Muchadehama was part of the Defence team representing freelance photojournalist, Shadreck Andrisson Manyere and Movement for Democratic Change activists, Kisimusi Dhlamini and Ghandi Mudzingwa. The defence team facilitated the release on bail of Manyere on both the occasions of 9 April 2009 and recently on the 13 May 2009. On 5 May 2009 Manyere, Mukoko and 14 other alleged saboteurs had their bail conditions revoked by Magistrate Catherine Chimanda who ruled that the court had no jurisdiction to entertain the matter. She also ruled that the indictment of the accused automatically suspended their bail and consequently remanded them in custody.

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