8 more MDC-T activists in court

Centre on May 28 yesterday appeared in court charged with murder.
This brings to 20, the number of suspects who have appeared in court over the murder case since last week.
Tafadzwa Billiat (26), Simon Mudimu (37), Dube Zwelibenze (35), Simon Mapanzure (40), Edwin Muingiri (32), Augustine Tengenyika (39), Francis Vambai (30) and Nyamadzawo Gapara (47) appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Shane Kubonera who remanded them in custody to June 17 this year. Mr Jeremiah Bhamu who represented the eight, said his clients were held under inhuman conditions while in police custody and some were assaulted by arresting police details.
He said they were also denied food and water as well as a chance to contact relatives to inform them of their whereabouts.
Billiat, he said, was improperly brought before the court as he was over detained and was in police custody since May 30.
Mr Bhamu said Dube was detained since May 31 and their continued detention was illegal.
In response, Mr Edmore Nyazamba from the Attorney-General’s Office said: “The purported allegations have been communicated to me before the court sat and I verified with the police officers.
“All these allegations are baseless and have no foundation as they are calculated to smear the police as an organisation.”
He said nevertheless a formal inquiry would be done and a report will be presented in court before the next remand date.
Mr Bhamu said the State’s submissions were shocking as it had prejudged the matter and urged the court to make sure investigations were free of bias and prejudice. Mr Kubonera ordered the AG’s Office to conduct impartial investigations and ensure the report was ready before the next remand date.
Insp Mutedza was stationed at Borrowdale Police Station and attached to the police Reaction Group at the time of his death.