By Wezhira Munya
On August 16th, 2024, the former ZINASU (Zimbabwe National Students Union) Masvingo Provincial chairperson, Calvin Muvheyi, was denied bail by a Masvingo Magistrate. Muvheyi was arrested on August 9th, 2024, while attending a court session for a corruption case involving the Masvingo City town clerk, Mr. Mukaratirwa.
The police alleged that Muvheyi was planning to lead and encourage citizens to demonstrate against Zimbabwean President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s impending chairmanship of the Southern African Development Community (SADC) on August 17th, 2024. However, the police claim that the WhatsApp message used as evidence against Muvheyi was not sent from his number, but rather from a number that was later verified not to belong to him.
Muvheyi is being represented by Advocate Collins Maboke.
Masvingo Urban Member of Parliament and top human rights lawyer, Advocate Martin Mureri, stated that Muvheyi’s arrest was based on a case of mistaken identity. Advocate Collins Maboke, who is representing Muvheyi, has the option to seek bail from the High Court in Masvingo.
Muvheyi is the only opposition member to be arrested in Masvingo in connection with the alleged demonstrations against Mnangagwa’s SADC chairmanship. Many Zimbabweans are reportedly against Mnangagwa’s chairmanship, as SADC and other local and international observers have stated that the 2023 harmonized elections in Zimbabwe were not free and fair, and that Mnangagwa stole the elections from President Nelson Chamisa.
Muvheyi, a media graduate student, also serves on the Masvingo Urban Constituency Development Committee, representing the youth under the leadership of Advocate Mureri. He is currently languishing in the cold Masvingo Remand Prison on a case that he is believed not to have committed.
The denial of bail for Muvheyi has raised concerns among human rights advocates and opposition supporters, who view it as a crackdown on dissent and a political move to silence those who oppose Mnangagwa’s SADC chairmanship. The case is expected to continue on August 28th, 2024, and the outcome will be closely watched by the local and international community.
