14 jailed Zimbabwean opposition activists granted bail

By Jeffrey Moyo

HARARE, Zimbabwe - Fourteen activists in Zimbabwe from the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party were granted bail Tuesday by a high court judge after they were arrested and jailed for violence in June.

Munamato Mutevedzi granted a bail of 50,000 Zimbabwean dollars ($79) to each of the activists.

The activists had spent 150 days in prison following their arrests for violent skirmishes that followed the murder of CCC activist Moreblessing Ali.

They reportedly sparked protests, clashing with ruling Zanu-PF activists at Ali’s funeral and were charged with inciting violence to avenge the death of the slain activist.

Ali’s remains were found cut into pieces and tossed in a disused well by her suspected killer, Pius Jamba, who is being held at the Harare Central Prison in the nation’s capital of Harare.

Prosecutors alleged the activists destroyed homes that belonged to Zanu PF members in Nyatsime, just outside Harare, where they held protests during Ali’s funeral.

Opposition CCC parliamentarian Godfrey Sithole was granted bail last week after spending 149 days in jail -- leaving his co-accused, Job Sikhala, behind bars on similar charges of inciting violence following the protests at the funeral in Nyatsime, an area in Chitungwiza, southeast of Harare.

With the activists out on bail, party leader, Nelson Chamisa, has made vehement demands for the immediate release of Sikhala.

“Good news, bail granted! Finally, the Nyatsime 14 have been granted bail. Now, honorable Job Sikhala must be granted bail,” said Chamisa.