Pictures: Arrested members
The nine members were arrested on 23 April 2021 and were charged with section 37 of criminal law codification participating in unlawful gathering with intent to promote public violence. The nine were granted $5000 bail each after spending a night in police cells. The nine MRF members (5 women and 4 men) are secretary general Prosper Tiringindi, R Mavhenge, A Mufamba ward 5 chairperson, Mataga Clara, Christine Mukuma, Viola Masuma, Kudzai Chamunorwa, Matter Zigwata and Leeroy Taylor were just being persecuted for an offense which they did not commit. The accused were worried and disturbed by the continued postponement of the matter without trial. The arrested women were no longer doing their work as they spent more hours at the court. The nine were represented by Martin Mureri of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights.
Scenes at Masvingo magistrate court after the acquittal: https://youtu.be/
Residents of Masvingo have their hands tightened up as the responsible authorities have started engaging in water disconnections to defaulters without any notice. Quite a number of residents are facing drastic challenges when it comes to paying off their high water rates as they have not fully recovered from the series of lockdowns imposed by the government in a bid to curb the increased cases of Covid 19 infections. Masvingo residents are complaining that many days they are not receiving water, but at the end of the month their bills are very high. In high density suburbs like Mucheke, Old Railways, and Victoria Range, people go for weeks without water. In all these suburbs, residents are waking up at night to access water, exposing them to issues of rape and robbery, especially women and girls.
he hike in water charges also negatively affects residents’ ability to pay their bills on time, as many are failing to raise the funds. Residents are shocked as the council is disconnecting water even from residents who had engaged the council and agreed on payment plans. The council is only disconnecting water to high density suburbs, leaving government institutions that owe council more than residents. There is a selective application of the law, where other defaulters are left out of the operation. Figures for February 2021 Grain Marketing Board is required to pay MCC ZWL in the amount of $119 115.58, Zimbabwe National Army ZWL in the amount of $28 301.962, Zimbabwe Republic Police ZWL in the amount of $5900.994, and National Railways of Zimbabwe ZWL in the amount of $24 336.84, just to mention a few. At these institutions, the council is not disconnecting water supply as they are doing in high density suburbs. Public institutions owe MCC ZWL $77 334 662.
Scenes at Masvingo City Council led to the arrest of the nine members: https://youtu.be/KXQ8Y0Ej7x4
Scenes at the Civic Center as Masvingo residents demonstrate against water crisis in the city