Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers arrested Wellington Mariga on Tuesday 18
September 2018 in central Harare and charged him with public violence as defined in section
36 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
ZRP officers alleged that Mariga, who is represented by Gift Mtisi of Zimbabwe Lawyers for
Human Rights, engaged in acts of violence in Harare’s Central Business District on
Wednesday 01 August 2018 together with some MDC Alliance party supporters during a
demonstration held on Wednesday 01 August 2018 in the capital city to protest against the
Zimbabwe Electoral Commission’s management of the harmonised elections held on Monday
30 July 2018, which reportedly resulted in the destruction of property and left six people dead
after they were shot by some members of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces.
Mariga was granted $100 bail on Wednesday 19 September 2018 by Harare Magistrate
Ruramai Chitumbura and ordered to report once a week on Fridays at the CID Law and Order
Section at Harare Central Police Station.
He becomes the latest person to be charged with committing public violence during the
elections protest following the arrest of more than 30 people including Tendai Biti, one of the
MDC Alliance party leaders.
Zanu PF took their foot off the violence pedal during the elections because the international community was watching but ever since the 1st August the regime has let loose its dogs and the crackdown on the opposition has been ruthless. We need to implement meaningful reforms or this nation will never know what it means to have freedom; free and fair elections; etc.