Zimbabwean opposition activists seem in courtroom after police raid

Twenty-five Zimbabwean opposition activists arrived in a truck on the Harare Justice of the Peace courtroom on Monday (Jan. 16). Police on Saturday stormed the house of Costa Machingauta, a legislator with the opposition Residents Coalition for Change (CCC).

The Residents Coalition for Change celebration condemned the arrests, insiting its members assembly was a non-public gathering.

The actvists’ lawyer informed the press the state was opposing bail as he detailed the accusations levelled in opposition to them.

“The state has most well-liked fees of contravening of Part 37 of the Legal Legislation Codification and Reform Act which has to do with collaborating in an unlawful gathering for the needs of selling or inciting public violence,” Wilfred Mandinde revealed. “Of the 25 who had been arrested, one is a minor aged 17 and we’ve managed to safe the discharge of this minor who has now been positioned within the custody of his guardian.”

The CCC stated on the weekend that MP Machingauta, his spouse and 17-year-old daughter had been overwhelmed up earlier than he was carried away. 

Police refused to remark. It was unclear whether or not Machingauta was amongst those that appeared in courtroom on Monday.

Critics have complained of a tightening clampdown on dissent and the media forward of common elections due this 12 months.

The Residents Coalition for Change CCC spokeswoman described the arrests as “calculated to persecute our members.”