By Leonnel Mhuka
A Harare Magistrate has ordered the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to return electronic gadgets they took from three well-known pro-democracy activists, Namatai Kwekweza, Robson Chere and Samuel Gwenzi. The trio was forcibly removed from a plane, arrested, and later charged with disorderly conduct. This ruling is a step forward in their fight for justice as they challenge these charges. Keep reading to learn more about their ordeal, the court’s decision, and what happens next in this important case.
Read the full statement by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights below
A Harare Magistrate on Monday ordered PoliceZimbabwe to release & hand back some electronic gadgets, which they forcibly & illegally confiscated from 3 prominent pro-democracy campaigners, who were seized from a plane in Harare in July & tortured before being prosecuted on charges of disorderly conduct in a public place.
Some mobile phones & laptops were confiscated from three pro-democracy campaigners namely Namatai Kwekweza, Robson Chere and Samuel Gwenzi on 31 July, during a horrible ordeal, when they were arrested and detained by ZRP officers, after they had been forcibly removed from a plane, which they had boarded at Robert Mugabe International Airport in Harare, while on their way to attend a conference in Victoria Falls.
Kwekweza, the leader of WELEAD, Chere, the Secretary-General of ARTUZ & Gwenzi, a former Councillor for Ward 5 in Harare, were charged with disorderly conduct in a public place as defined in section 41(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification & Reform) Act & accused of allegedly participating in an unsanctioned demonstration reportedly held at Harare Magistrates Court in June, where they protested against the detention of Citizens Coalition for Change political party leader Jameson Timba & some of the opposition party members & demanding their release from prison.
The trio, who are out of prison custody on bail & are represented by Jeremiah Bamu, Tinashe Chinopfukutwa & Kelvin Kabaya of ZLHRLawyers, recently filed an application at Harare Magistrates Court, where they asked the court to order ZRP to release their mobile phone handsets and laptops, arguing that their electronic gadgets were being unlawfully held by ZRP as according to prosecutors, the seized devices, were not required to be used during their trial.
On Monday 18 November 2024, a Harare Magistrate ordered ZRP to release and return Kwekweza, Chere and Gwenzi’s mobile phone handsets and laptops. Kwekweza, Chere & Gwenzi together with
Vusumuzi Moyo, Phillies Pikitayi, Dephine Gutsa, Simbarashe Blackson, Emmanuel Sitima & Last Chinodya, return to court on 9 December, where a ruling on their application for exception to the charges of disorderly conduct, will be handed down.
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
