The MDCs Transport Manager Pascal Gwezere, who is still being kept behind bars on trumped-up charges, could find his prison stay drawn out even longer, after the Attorney Generals office filed an application challenging his bail.Gwezere was granted bail more than 2 weeks ago after being charged with weapons theft, but he has been forced to remain behind bars at Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison. The High Court had granted Gwezere US$500 bail with strict conditions, but the State immediately invoked a draconian legal act that forced him to remain in remand for another week. Chief law officer Michael Mugabe has since lodged an appeal against Gwezeres bail in the Supreme Cour, and until the Court makes a determination on the matter it is likely Gwezere will remain locked up.
The MDC employee was abducted from his home in Harare last month, and was missing for almost a week before finally being brought before the courts, bearing signs of severe torture. He has since stated that his abductors repeatedly interrogated him using torture methods, leaving him with serious injuries to his head, feet, leg and back. Despite these injuries, Gwezere has been denied access to private medical care, with prison officials openly ignoring a ruling that he be allowed access to proper care. As a result, Gwezeres overall health is seriously deteriorating and there are genuine concerns about how he will manage being imprisoned much longer.
Gwezere has been charged with stealing firearms from Pomona Barracks and receiving military training in Uganda a decade ago. The military training charge has already been thrown out by the magistrates court, while the MDC has said the theft charges are trumped up.