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Court Reporters
Deputy Chief Provincial magistrate for Harare, Gibson Mandaza, has denied two Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) legislators bail following their arrest on charges of inciting public violence.
The duo, Zengeza West legislator Job Sikhala and Chitungwiza North MP Godfrey Sithole were arrested over a week ago and have been incarcerated since then.
They were picked up for allegedly inciting violence that erupted in Chitungwiza’s Nyatsime suburb after angry mourners attending the late CCC activist, Moreblessing Ali’s memorial service went on a rampage attacking people and damaging property.
In his ruling, Mandaza said Sikhala and Sithole were a threat to public security and had the propensity to continue inciting violence if freed.
He remanded them in custody to July 6.
Their lawyers, Jeremiah Bamu and Alec Muchadehama, said they will launch an urgent appeal at the High Court.
Mandaza said Sikhala violated his previous high court bail conditions after prosecutors alleged that he posted videos encouraging public violence following the recovery of Ali’s mutilated body.
“The bail order in the High Court for Job Sikhala stated that the accused shall not post videos on social media to incite violence.
“The state was firm in stating that the two accused persons are not suitable candidates for bail because of the violence and the consequences they caused in Nyatsime area.
“It is the view of this court that the State has managed to prove that the two accused should be denied bail.
Accordingly, therefore bail is denied,” Mandaza said. Ali was allegedly murdered by Pius Jamba who has since been arrested. Nhau/Indaba
