HARARE – Three women who were arrested in Harare on allegations of participating in the foiled March 31 protests against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s continued stay in office were Thursday granted bail by the High Court.
The three are Moreblessing Nkomo, Jenifer Chimange and Sthabile Maduve.
They appeared in court separate to 95 other suspects facing the same offence.
The suspects were seized by anti-riot police in Harare after taking to the streets following strong calls by exiled former Zanu PF Central Committee member Blessed Geza to force Mnangagwa out.
The group has been denied bail.
Nkomo and her co-accused had been denied bail by magistrate Ruth Moyo.
Their eventual freedom follows a successful appeal heard by High Court judge, Lucy Mungwari who ruled that the lower court erred when it denied the trio bail.
“The court aquo erred and misdirected itself by failing to identify any exceptional circumstances to justify the appellants bail on the grounds that releasing them would disturb public order,” said the judge.
Mungwari also said there was no nexus between the allegations that they were seen singing at Copacabana bus rank in Harare’s CBD during the day of the protests and propensity to disturb public order.
Prosecutors allege the three were arrested in the act.
