By Albert Mpofu
Harare, Zimbabwe – A University of Zimbabwe student, Gamuchirai Chaburumunda, who is also the Organising Secretary of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), has been refused bail by the Harare Magistrates Court. Chaburumunda is facing charges in relation to her alleged participation in the Black Monday protest that occurred on May 15th. The protest aimed to bring attention to the continued imprisonment of Honourable Job Sikhala and other political prisoners. Chaburumunda, along with five other students, namely Darlington Chigwena, Benjamin Watadza, Emmanuel Chitima, Comfort Mpofu, and Lionel Madamombe, who are already in custody, are scheduled to go to trial on June 24th.
In a separate court case, the fate of 38 residents from Nyatsime remains uncertain. These individuals were arrested on June 9th and charged with public violence. The Chitungwiza Magistrate, Isheanesu Matova, postponed the ruling on whether they should be held in custody until Monday, June 18th. Lawyers representing the residents from the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum, Darlington Marange and Noble Chinhanu, have strongly opposed the continued persecution, saying their clients’ are innocent and deny allegations that they destroyed ZANU PF cell offices.
In another case ,the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights today achieved a significant victory in Mutasa District. Two villagers, Zephenia Nyangani and Learnmore Makuwaza, who were on trial for allegedly tearing a political campaign poster belonging to a ZANU PF party member, have been released and found not guilty. The defense team, led by David Tandiri of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, argued that the prosecution failed to present sufficient evidence against the accused. The magistrate, Sanyatwe, agreed with the defense’s arguments, pointing out inconsistencies in the testimonies provided by state witnesses.
Meanwhile, in Harare, a case against Last Chinodya, a young member of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) from Mbare, has good news as well. Chinodya was arrested in September 2022 for allegedly threatening to kill a ZANU PF supporter named Tonderai Rusere, who was campaigning for his party. However, the State has been unable to set a trial date, leading to Chinodya being released from custody. The State plans to proceed with the case by summoning Chinodya instead. Noble Chinhanu, who represents Chinodya, has expressed concerns about the handling of the case, stressing on the need for a fair and prompt legal process.
