Tajamuka activists granted bail

Tendai Rupapa Senior Court Reporter
Two suspected hooligans aligned to the #Tajamuka pressure group arrested for public violence in Harare last Friday have been granted $100 bail each. Gibson Mavhunga and Thomas Chihuri were granted freedom by Harare magistrate Ms Josephine Sande after spending three days in custody. After hearing submissions from both parties, Ms Sande ruled that the State failed to give compelling reasons to deny them bail.

They were remanded to October 26. The State is alleging that on September 29 at around 11am, the pair acting in connivance with other anti-Government activists in Harare, conspired to cause public violence in the Central Business District. They allegedly gathered at Copacabana bus terminus at the intersection of Chinhoyi and Speke Avenue armed with stones and sticks. It is alleged that they chased away illegal money dealers around that area.

They proceeded to throw missiles everywhere causing mayhem as people scurried for cover. The gang allegedly destroyed several shops shattering glasses with stones. Some of the rowdy demonstrators started looting from shops. This forced shops and banks to briefly close.

They stoned a Ford Ranger double cab belonging to Zanu-PF Member of Parliament for Harare South Constituency Cde Shadreck Mashayamombe, which was parked along Leopold Takawira, it is alleged. The hooligans proceeded to the Main Post Office along Julius Nyerere Way where they stoned a Ford Fiesta which was driven by Cde Claude Muzanenhamo.

Cde Muzanenhamo is the Zanu-PF Harare Province administrator. All the windows and windscreen of the vehicle were shattered. Upon his arrest, Chihuri was allegedly found in possession of various stolen mobile phones. The value of the stolen and damaged property is still to be ascertained.