They have been charged under Section 37 1(a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act – ‘disturbing the peace, security or order of the public’.
Williams and Mahlangu appeared in court this morning at 11.15am. On arrival at court, the state prosecutor had agreed with the defence lawyer, Kossam Ncube, that the state would not oppose bail and the amount and conditions were settled. On entering the court room however, Ncube was informed that a new prosecutor, Chifamba, was taking over the case.
Chifamba argued that the two should be denied bail because there was still an outstanding case pending, referring to the May 28 arrest. As the group of
14 had been removed off remand in Harare Magistrate’s Court on Wednesday 15th, this matter is no longer pending. The Magistrate, Maphosa, allowed the state time to verify this fact however, remanding the two in custody until Tuesday 21st October.
It is clear from these actions that the state is determined to deny the two bail, a clear violation of the spirit of the power-sharing agreement signed by the political parties on 15th September.
Williams and Mahlangu will now be moved to Bulawayo Remand Prison later this afternoon for the night. It is not clear if they will then be moved to Mlondolozi Female Prison tomorrow or if they will remain at Bulawayo Prison until Tuesday.
Although disappointed by the ruling, the two are determined to remain positive, even though Mahlangu is in pain from the beating she received outside Mhlalandlela. Apparently it was Chief Inspector Mabhari himself who beat her.
The Investigating Officer of the case is Detective Sergeant Kennedy Nyahuye from the Law and Order Section of Bulawayo Central Police Station.
Useful telephone numbers:
Bulawayo Central Police Station: +263 9 72515/61706/63061/68078 (ask to speak to Chief Inspector Mabhari or Detective Sergeant Kennedy Nyahuye)
Bulawayo Prison: +263 9 60417/60418 (ask that the women be treated well and their rights upheld)
Bulawayo Attorney General’s Office: +263 9 77651/61603 (ask why the women are being denied bail when they have never been convicted of an offence – the state should not imprison to investigate)
Bulawayo Public Prosecutor: + 263 9 63173 (ask to speak to Prosecutor Chifamba – question as above.)
Post published in: News