However Muchadehama said his clients deny the charges, saying they were
not anywhere near the scenes of the alleged crimes. He said the police
picked up the accused persons a day after the alleged crime.
The 10 are expected to be released on Friday, after paying bail of US$50 each.
Meanwhile, Supreme Court Judge Justice Godfrey Chidyausiku agreed to
postpone a bail appeal hearing in respect of the three political
detainees who have been in custody for four months, after the State
claimed it was not prepared for the hearing and asked for the
postponement.
Lawyers defending MDC officials Chris Dhlamini, Ghandi Mudzingwa and
photo-journalist Shadreck Andrew Manyere, accuse the state of using
delaying tactics to deny the three their basic rights.
On Thursday the three appealed in the Supreme Court but the excuse'
given by the Attorney General's Office was that it was not ready to
make a presentation.
One of the defence lawyers Charles Kwaramba said: This is a bail
matter for goodness's sake. It's a simple matter of releasing the
prisoners on bail or not.
He says these three are clearly being discriminated against, especially
as they have been in custody since December and four of their
co-accused are already out on bail. There is no basis for that
distinction. Why give bail to a few of the people who are co-accused
with these ones. We will simply be arguing that there is
discrimination.
The bail appeal is expected to be heard on Monday.
They are among a group of seven who have been accused of organising a
series of bombings of police stations and railway lines to destabilise
the Mugabe regime. In February, High Court Judge Justice Yunus Omerjee,
granted bail to four of the accused, but not to these three.
In a related matter on the same day, the same judge dismissed the
State's application to appeal against a matter involving a separate
group of political activists. Last November High Court Judge Justice
Hungwe gave an order for the release of 13 abductees, who included
Concillia Chinanzvavana and 70 year old Fidelis Chiramba. All the
accused had been kidnapped from their homes and the police had denied
knowing their whereabouts. At the time Justice Hungwe said their
detention was unlawful.
But on Thursday the State tried to make an appeal in the Supreme Court
against the order by Justice Hungwe. But Justice Chidyausiku dismissed
the State's appeal and upheld the High Court's earlier decision stating
that their detention was unlawful.
Charles Kwaramba, who is also one of the lawyers representing these 13,
said the Attorney General's office had been trying to use delaying
tactics. He said the latest judgment is a positive development for the
accused persons. The 13 are expected back in court on 30 April.
SWRadio Africa
Post published in: Politics