HARARE – University of Zimbabwe student, Gamuchirai Chaburumunda was Wednesday granted ZW$200,000 bail by the High Court after spending over a month in remand prison over her alleged participation in defacing some government and other prominent buildings in Harare in protest over opposition lawmaker Job Sikhala’s continued incarceration.
The 22-year-old was arrested together with five other students, Emmanuel Sitima, Comfort Mpofu, Lionel Andrew Madamombe, Tawanda Benjamin Watadza and Darlington Upenyu Chigwena, all members of the firebrand Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU).
Her alleged accomplices however remain in custody.
The State accuses the students of targeting some government buildings to inscribe graffiti which was calling for Sikhala’s release.
The Citizens Coalition for Change MP and lawyer has been languishing in jail since June 14 last year charged with violence incitement.
Court papers say the students spray painted parliament building’s walls “between 14 and 15 May 2023, and between 3am and 5am”.
“Each of the accused persons was armed with cans of red spray and black spray paints,” court papers further read.
“They evaded security on duty, whilst still acting in common purpose with others still at large and without the consent of the owner or occupiers of the Parliament of Zimbabwe; the accused spray painted on and defaced the southern facing wall of the Parliament of Zimbabwe Building, along Nelson Mandela Avenue.
“The accused persons using the red paint, inscribed words to the effect ‘Free Wiwa’, ‘Free Job Sikhala’.
“The accused persons defaced the walls of the Parliament of Zimbabwe Building thereby damaging the image of the said wall.”
The State is also alleging that the students spray painted the walls of the High Court, the Methodist Trinity Church building and the Constitutional Court building.
They then went to the Harare Civil Court and painted graffiti on Runhare House and Karigamombe buildings located at the corner of Julius Nyerere and Samora Machel Avenue.
