High Court Ends Detention of Ngadziore Over Abduction Protest

HIGH Court Judge Justice Davison Foroma on Friday 16 October 2020 ended the lengthy detention of Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) leader Takudzwa Ngadziore, who was arrested in September by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) members for allegedly protesting at Impala Car Rental premises demanding answers concerning its alleged role in the use of its vehicles in the abduction of Tawanda Muchehiwa, a journalism student.

Muchehiwa, was abducted, disappeared and tortured by some unidentified people in Bulawayo in July, who interrogated him to reveal the whereabouts of his relative, freelance journalist Mduduzi Mathuthu.

The 22 year-old Ngadziore was arrested on Friday 18 September 2020 and charged with contravening section 37(1)(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly participating in a public gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of peace or bigotry.

Prosecutors alleged that Ngadziore teamed up with 30 other unidentified people and gathered at some traffic lights located in Braeside suburb in Harare armed with placards and demonstrated against Impala Car Rental’s alleged use of its vehicles in the abduction of Muchehiwa.

During the demonstration, prosecutors claimed that Ngadziore sang songs demeaning ZRP members.

Attempts by Ngadziore’s lawyer Webster Jiti of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Huma Rights to have the ZINASU leader released on bail were dismissed on Monday 21 September 2020 by Harare Magistrate Judith Taruvinga who ruled that if set free he was likely to commit similar offences.

Jiti then filed an appeal at High Court challenging Magistrate Taruvinga’s decision to deny Ngadziore bail, which was heard by Justice Davison Foroma, who on Tuesday 6 October reserved his ruling on the student leader’s freedom bid.

On Friday 16 October 2020, Justice Foroma ordered that Ngadziore be released from Harare Remand Prison after imposing some stringent bail conditions including paying RTGS$5 000 bail, staying away from public gatherings, reporting once a week at Harare Central Police Station, keeping 500 metres away from Impala Car Rental premises, surrendering his passport and not to interfere with state witnesses.

Source: Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights

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