Police have arrested two MDC Alliance party youths, bringing the number of people arrested for allegedly participating in protests staged in Harare early this month.
Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers arrested Gerald Farai Chigwada on Saturday and Womberaishe Nhende on Monday and charged them with public violence as defined in section 36 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Prosecutors accused Chigwada and Nhende who appeared at Harare Magistrates Court on Monday of participating in a demonstration held last month in Harare to protest the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s management of the harmonised elections held on 30 July 2018, which reportedly resulted in the destruction of property and left six people dead after they were shot by some members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
Chigwada and Nhende, who were represented by Gift Mtisi and Kossam Ncube of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, were granted US$50 bail by Harare Magistrate Francis Mapfumo, who ordered them to report once a week at the Law and Order Section at Harare Central Police Station, reside at their given residential addresses and not to interfere with state witnesses.
The arrest of Chigwada and Nhende brings the number of people arrested in connection with the elections protest to 31 including Tendai Biti, one of the MDC Alliance party leaders, David Zvavamwe Shambare, Shadreck Mashayamombe, Tapiwa Joni, Ngonidzashe Makazhu, Michael Mheta, Simbarashe Mujeye, Judith Chacha, Lilian Mahosi, Anna Chezhira, Angeline Mukoki, Agatha Mubaiwa, Chancellor Nyamande, Livenice Kachana, Tichaona Daniel, Farai Nyamhunga, Mercy Mataramvura, Munyaradzi Chibanda, Samson Nerwande, Raymond Machakaire, Tapiwa Naume Khamu, Tendai Torerwa, Christopher Nikisi, Tonderai Chakona, Justin Mugashu, Simbarashe Zvobgo, Trymore Mubaiwa, Searchmore Mutegude and Kudakwashe Katunhu, who are all out of custody on bail.
