The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition Chairperson, Rashid Mahiya, who is facing charges of plotting to overthrow the government has been granted bail by Justice Foroma at the High Court on Thursday 07 March 2019 after the state failed to make submissions. The bail application had been postponed twice.
Mahiya was represented by Tonderai Bhatasara of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. As part of the bail conditions, Mahiya was ordered to:
- Pay USD 1000
- Reside at his given address
- Report twice at Harare Central Police
- Surrender title deeds of his parent’s home
Mahiya joins a number of other civil society and labour leaders who have been charged with attempting to overthrow President Mnangagwa’s government in a clampdown that has left 19 dead, 79 wounded and over 1000 citizens arrested.
Mahiya, who is being charged for subversion as defined in Section 22 (20 (a) (i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act had surrendered himself to the police on February 25, 2019. He was denied bail on his initial court appearance on February 26, 2019 at the Harare Magistrates Court and advised to approach the High Court for bail. His lawyers approached the High Court on Wednesday 27 March 2019 and a bail hearing date had been set for 01 March but the state failed to make submissions prompting the court to move the hearing to Tuesday 05 March 2019. The state again failed to make submissions and was given up to 11AM of Thursday 07, March 2019 to make its submissions.
Following the state sponsored violent clampdown on civil society leaders, labour and citizens the international community and United Nations have voiced concern over the human rights situation in Zimbabwe.
Source: Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition
