Former ZBC TV anchor Jestina Mukoko and 12 other political prisoners were finally granted bail on Monday following a meeting between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai at Zimbabwe House in the morning. Mukoko had spent 3 months in custody since her December abduction while the others were approaching their 5th month locked up.
Despite claims by Mugabe that only the courts would deal with the issue concerning the detainees, it was clear Monday a political deal had secured their release. Defence lawyers quietly admitted to journalists that their clients would not have tasted their freedom had it not been for Tsvangirai’s pressure on Monday.
Granted bail was: Concillia Chinanzavana, Manuel Chinanzvavana, Fidelis Chiramba, Violet Mupfuranhewe, Colin Mutemagawu, Pieta Kaseke, Audrice Mbudzana, Broderick Takawira, Zacharia Nkomo, Chinoto Zulu, Regis Mujeyi, Mapfumo Gautsa and Jestina Mukoko.
Deputy Agriculture Minister Roy Bennett, photo-journalist Shadreck Anderson Manyere, MDC security chief Chris Dlamini, and Tsvangirai’s former aide Gandhi Mudzingwa remain locked up with pending bail applications. Bennett was granted bail last week only for the Attorney General Johannes Tomana to abuse the appeal process and delay his release.
Mukoko remains in hospital and is said to have told reporters, “Thank God I am free. I will be able to see my family and go home, if I am cleared, medically.” Defence lawyer Alec Muchadehama said of the 16 people who applied for bail, 13 were granted bail. The 3 others, Mudzingwa, Dlamini and Manyere are still appealing for bail. Out of the 13 granted bail only 7 are free with the remaining 6 failing to meet the prohibitive bail conditions.
Over 30 opposition and civil society activists were abducted and kept in custody over trumped up banditry and terrorism charges. Critics dismissed the charges as politically motivated.
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