HARARE – The MDC Alliance’s Harare West MP Joana Mamombe and activist Cecilia Chimbiri were denied bail by the High Court on appeal Thursday.
Justice Tawanda Chitapi of the Harare High Court said it was not in the interests of justice to grant freedom to the duo.
The two women already faced at least three separate charges before their latest arrest accused of holding a gathering prohibited under Covid-19 regulations, this after they addressed a new conference to express solidarity with another jailed activist Makomborero Haruzivishe.
“They did not deny addressing a gathering. I would also say the accused showed an attitude of defiance and did not give an assurance or suggest any stringent conditions,” Justice Chitapi ruled.
He said Mamombe, in particular, had shown a propensity for falling foul of the law.
“I can’t say she’s guilty, but it remains a fact she has not stopped engaging in activities that make her end up being charged for breaking the law,” the judge said.
Justice Chitapi said stringent bail conditions previously imposed on the two women in the other pending criminal cases had “clearly not worked.”
Meanwhile, Justice Chitapi said he would had down his ruling on a bail appeal by ZINASU president Takudzwa Ngadziore on Friday. Ngadziore faces the same charges as Mamombe and Chimbiri.
