HARARE – Opposition Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume will spend yet another weekend in custody after his bail hearing was on Friday rolled over to August 14 by a Harare magistrate.
Ngarivhume is facing charges of disorderly conduct and participating in an unlawful gathering.
He is jointly charged with Kelvin Gonde, another activist.
Prosecutors allege they were among nearly 80 opposition activists who were arrested June this year while holding an unsanctioned meeting at Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) faction leader, Jameson Timba’s Harare home.
The state is opposing bail.
Led by prosecutors, investigating officer Victor Mukohwa told the court that he intends to record witness statements from 30 police officers.
Mukohwa told the court he can only do so after the upcoming SADC Summit as the targeted witnesses will be busy with duties related to the summit.
“I will need to record statements from 30 witnesses. The witnesses are police officers and they will have their statements recorded after the 44th SADC Summit when most of them will be free,” he said.
Mukohwa said Ngarivhume has a tendency of inciting public violence.
He also said the firebrand politician, if granted his freedom, is likely to influence others to engage in violence.
Mukohwa also said he requires time to check if the two have previous convictions and pending cases and can only be done with this after August 23.
Ngarivhume’s arrest nearly a week ago is part of a renewed government crackdown on government critics who have threatened to roll out anti-government protests when regional leaders fly into the country for the high profile indaba.
