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Violence, recrimination and arrests after policeman's death in Glen View - Index of articles
MDC-T
activists languishing in prison two years on
The Standard
(Zimbabwe)
August 18, 2013
http://www.thestandard.co.zw/2013/08/18/mdc-t-activists-languishing-in-prison-two-years-on/
MDC-T activists,
accused
of murdering a police officer in Glen View, are still waiting
for a ruling on their application for discharge more than two months
after High Court Judge Justice Chinembiri Bhunu reserved judgement.
The 29 MDC-T
activists were arrested in 2011 for allegedly murdering a police
officer, inspector Petros Mutedza in Glen View.
However, the
wheels of justice seem to be moving slowly, and one of the activists
Rebecca Mafikeni died
on Monday while still in custody. Relatives and some party official
said prison authorities denied the activist medication, leading
to her death.
Mafikeni, Tungamirai
Madzokere, Yvonne Musarurwa, Last Maengahama and Simon Mapanzure
were denied bail last year on the grounds that they were flight
risks, while their 24 counterparts were released on bail between
November and December.
Those released
on bail last year include, MDC-T youth assembly chair Solomon Madzore.
Madzore went on to win the Dzivaresekwa constituency in last
month’s harmonised elections.
The activists’
lawyer, Charles Kwaramba told The Standard yesterday that he was
still waiting for a ruling after applying for the discharge.
“I have
been waiting since then. We are just waiting and waiting,”
he lamented.
Musarurwa, Maengahama
and Mapanzure are still being held at Chikurubi Remand Prison, while
Madzokera is at Harare Remand Prison.
Asked on the
condition of the remaining four who are in custody, Kwaramba said
he had not seen them, adding “they can’t be well in
prison”.
The country’s
prisons are crowded and many prisoners suffer from contagious diseases.
Mutedza was
stoned to death by unknown assailants during skirmishes in the high-density
suburb.
Police at the
time said the skirmishes arose after officers tried to disperse
an illegal meeting in Glen View.
Police then
declared war on MDC-T and civic society organisations.
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