HARARE – Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislator Amos Chibaya and 24 party activists, arrested in Harare’s Budiriro suburb for allegedly taking part in an unlawful gathering, were finally bailed ZW$30,000 each on Friday after spending nearly two weeks in state custody.

In granting them their freedom, Harare magistrate, Yeukai Dzuda dismissed the state’s claims that the activists were a flight risk adding that the cited meeting was clearly private, having been held at Harare lawmaker Costa Machingauta’s home.

Machingauta is among the accused activists.

“It is common knowledge that the applicants held a private meeting on a private property,” Dzuda said before granting the activists bail.

Among their bail conditions, each of the suspects was ordered to report once at a police station nearest to their homes.

Police allege that over 500 activists attended the gathering that led to the arrest of the 26.

Among those arrested was a 17-year-old minor who was released into the custody of her guardian upon the group’s first appearance in court.

Also arrested was the activists’ lawyer, Kudzai Kadzere after he had rushed to offer some legal assistance upon the activists’ arrest and detention at Budiriro police station.

Kadzere, who was separately charged with disorderly conduct, was also assaulted by police and sustained a fractured arm.

Speaking to journalists following the release of the 25, party spokesperson, Fadzayi Mahere was adamant it is not an offence under Zimbabwean laws to belong to a political party or to chant party slogans.

“The arrest was an abuse of process in the first place. It was a clear example of Zanu PF abusing state institutions to try and disrupt a CCC meeting.

“What was criminalised is chanting the party slogan which is a constitutional right and we will not stop.”

The investigating officer in the matter had told court that the activists were chanting the CCC slogan “Ngaapinde hake Mukomana”, a common declaration by party loyalists that party leader Nelson Chamisa should be the next state president.

Added Mahere, “We will not stop to say that. Ngaapinde hake mukomana.”

Mahere said the ruling party is scared because “they are staring defeat in the face.”

“As the CCC, we want elections. We don’t want war, we want peace, we do not want political violence,” she said.