adminThey were granted bail of $50 each to 12 March following failure by the State to lodge an appeal against the bail order within the stipulated seven days.
The State had initially invoked Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act (CPEA) to suspend the bail order. Section 121 of the CPEA permits a further seven-day detention, allowing the State to lodge an appeal against bail with a higher court.
The prosecutor, Mr Reason Mutimba, told the court that on 22 February, Kwinika, as the district secretary, applied to the officer commanding police in Beitbridge district, Chief Superintendent Lawrence Chinhengo, who is the regulating authority, notifying him of their intention to hold a political meeting at Stand Number 4735 in Dulibadzimu suburb in the border town.
The notification stated that the proposed meeting was to be held on 25 February between 10am and 4pm.
The court heard that two days later, police responded to the accused persons’ application informing them through a written prohibition order that the meeting had not been approved.
The MDC-T officials, however, defied the order and went on to convene the meeting despite the disapproval by the police.
Acting on a tip-off, police descended on the venue of the meeting where they found the accused persons chanting party slogans leading to their arrest.
Police also seized the minutes of the meeting.
Online Reporter