A Zimbabweans court on Thursday denied bail for nearly 100 people arrested 10 days ago for allegedly protesting against the rule of president Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Police rounded up the 95 men and women on 31 March at a small protest in central Harare mobilised by a veteran of the ruling ZANU-PF party who has called for the president to leave office.
They were charged with breaching the peace and participating in gatherings with intent to promote public violence, offences that carry sentence of up to five years in jail.
Magistrate Isheunesu Matova said he denied bail on the grounds of public safety as the release of the 95 “will likely cause commotion” and allow them to regroup.
Those in jail were aged between 20 and 63 and none were employed, according to the police charge sheet.
Three other people arrested the same day were already on trial on similar charges.
The day of protests was called by Blessed Geza, a veteran of the war that led to independence in 1980 from white-minority rule, who claims that Mnangagwa is manoeuvring to stay in power after his term ends in 2028.
Only dozens of demonstrators gathered – with 200 in the capital, according to police – but many businesses and offices shut for the day in several cities.
Mnangagwa, who took power from long-time ruler Robert Mugabe in a 2017 coup, is accused of creeping authoritarianism that has crushed the political opposition, including through long jail terms.
Journalist Blessed Mhlanga has been in jail since 24 February on charges related to his interviews with Geza.
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