HARARE – Nineteen police recruits, who indiscriminately attacked innocent civilians in Harare’s CBD Friday evening, appeared in court Monday facing public violence charges.

The cadet police officers appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi who remanded them in custody after prosecution opposed their bail bid.

Recruit Constable Tadiwanashe Machopa and 18 others are back in court this Tuesday for continuation of their bail application.

Prosecutors opposed bail stating that 17 of their colleagues were yet to be arrested.

The police trainees challenged placement on remand claiming they had been detained beyond the mandatory 48 hours a suspect can be held in police custody before being presented in court.

In denying their offences, one of the police recruits, Tinotenda Chakanyuka told court that he implicated his colleagues under duress.

Davison Mungezi, the investigating officer in the matter, opposed bail, arguing that the seriousness of the charges they face and the custodial sentence that likely awaited them could be enough inducement for the recruits to abscond trial.

“If convicted, they will abscond because of the sentence that will be given.

“There are witnesses to this matter. It is common cause that they went into the CBD and randomly assaulted members of the public,” he said.

According to the state, the 19 police recruits stationed at ZRP Mkushi Academy, “were armed with sticks and other unknown objects and engaged in acts of public violence…”

Prosecutors accuse the trainee police officers of running amok in an act of revenge against an earlier attack on two of their colleagues named as Tanaka Keith Kaseke and Anymore Ndlovu by an unknown assailant in Harare’s Copacabana bus terminus.

Both Kaseke and Ndlovu are co-accused in the matter.

Following the attacks by the recruits, court has heard, some of their victims sustained injuries.

The prosecution of 19 police officers over acts of violence against civilians could be the first such incident under the Emmerson Mnangagwa led administration.

There have been a lot of incidents involving the abuse of ordinary citizens by police officers which have been swept under the carpet.

Mnangagwa is keen to present a good image as he faces tough challenge from opposition nemesis Nelson Chamisa in elections due this Wednesday.