A group of 40 activists from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) have been remanded in custody pending a bail application after being accused of breaching the Maintenance of Order and Peace Act (MOPA).

Among the detained individuals is Grandmore Hakata, an aspiring opposition Member of Parliament from Glenview South.

The activists appeared before Harare magistrate Learnmore Mapiye, where they raised concerns about the inhumane conditions of their detention.

Complaints of Inhumane Detention Conditions

During the court proceedings, the activists, represented by lawyer Kudzai Kadzere with assistance from Tino Dube of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), voiced their grievances about the conditions in which they were held.

Forty (40) Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Activists Remanded In Custody!

They claimed that the cells were infested with urine and human excreta, arguing that such conditions warranted their immediate release.

However, the magistrate ruled that their complaints should be investigated separately, emphasizing that ill-treatment does not automatically lead to release.

State Pursues Case Against Activists

While acknowledging the activists’ concerns, the magistrate affirmed the state’s right to pursue its case against them. The state alleges that the activists breached the maintenance of peace regulations.

According to the prosecution, Lawrence Materege, the CCC convenor, had notified the local Regulating Authority for Harare South about a rally scheduled for Churu Farm on August 15, 2023.

However, it is alleged that Materege and Hakata deviated from the planned rally and instead organized a car procession through various streets, including Glen View, High Glen Road, Main Street, Machipisa Road, and Highfield suburb, where they obstructed traffic and engaged in party slogans and singing.

A vigilant citizen took action and filed an official report with the police, prompting the subsequent arrests.