HARARE – Zimbabwean rights activist Jestina Mukoko and 14 other people were ordered freed on bail yesterday after the president and the prime minister forced a magistrate to reverse the previous day’s decision that had sparked outrage.
James Maridadi, spokesman for Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, said the premier had raised the issue on Tuesday in meetings with President Robert Mugabe and Deputy Prime Minister Arthur Mutambara.
‘And they agreed that the bail conditions should be reinstated,’ Maridadi told The Associated Press. He said the justice minister was directed to ensure the agreement was carried out.
At a hastily called court hearing yesterday, Harare Magistrate Catherine Chimanda reversed her decision without saying why.
She refused, though, to free three others she had ordered returned to prison on Tuesday, saying their case was more serious because they had allegedly been found in possession of explosives.
Mukoko testified during an earlier bail hearing that she had been tortured and assaulted during detention, and the defendants had bloodied, swollen faces during court appearances late last year.
The group, which includes members of the former opposition party that joined a coalition government in February, faces charges stemming from an alleged plot to overthrow Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe. Neighbouring governments have said they believe the allegations are baseless.
The suspects had been free on bail for two months. Chimanda said on Tuesday she was jailing them again because a formal indictment filed on Monday accused them of sabotage, terrorism and banditry. Their trial is to start July 4.
– Nampa-AP
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