The bail hearing was adjourned to Tuesday and all 19 were remanded in custody. The activists, part of a campaign team put together by co-Home Affairs Minister Theresa Makone, were picked up by the police on Thursday last week as they went around Hatcliffe asking residents to register as voters.
Lawyers representing the group said police claimed that they were wearing T-shirts usually worn by officials from the Ministry Home Affairs. They were going around the high density suburb asking residents to check and confirm if their names were on the voters roll and advising them to register to vote if their names were missing.
The group was found in possession of copies of the voters rolls for the Harare North constituency. Makone, who is the MDC-T MP for the area told SW Radio Africa she bought the voters’ rolls from the Registrar General at $15 per copy.
‘I purchased 12 copies for my constituency, clearly for no reason other than voter verification. As a matter of fact my own name was missing in the first copy and then mis-spelt in the subsequent copy.
‘As far as I am concerned, this whole furore is meant to cause fear and despondency in my activists, while ZANU PF continues with its own door to door campaign unhindered,’ Makone said.
Last week, Makone launched a blistering attack on the police after they arrested the group branding the actions as ‘stupid and shameful.’ – SW Radio Africa News
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