Court Delays Protesters’ Bail Appeal Over Prosecutor Request

Only one suspect granted bail as others remain detained

by Ikeoluwa Ogungbangbe
Zimbabwe High Court building with police presence

KEY POINTS


  • The protesters’ bail appeal in Zimbabwe was postponed again at prosecutors’ request.

  • Only one protester was granted bail during Wednesday’s hearing.

  • Prosecutors alleged the group aimed to overthrow President Mnangagwa.


At the request of the prosecution, the High Court on Wednesday postponed the hearing on the bail appeal of 94 protest suspects.

High Court delays protesters’ bail appeal in Zimbabwe again

In opposition to bail, the National Prosecuting Authority requested further time so that the investigating officer could testify.

After the previous postponement because of missing court records from the magistrates court hearings, this is yet another delay.

The next bail appeal hearing has been set for Monday by the High Court, pending additional prosecution submissions.

Following the purported anti-government demonstration in Harare, 94 of the 98 detainees who were arrested on March 31 are still being held.

Three women who appeared apart from the main group of accused people were granted bail by the High Court last week.

During the court session on Wednesday, High Court judge Justice Philipa Philips granted bail to just one person, Munyaradzi Mazhiriri.

The gang is accused of taking part in an event meant to provoke public unrest and interfere with government functions.

Police allege group planned to storm State House

Prosecutors claim that the group assembled to begin a protest at Freedom Square at approximately 9:20 a.m. on March 31, 2025.

They allegedly intended to march through the heart of Harare and make their way to State House in order to forcibly overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa.

According to Zimlive, the accused yelled anti-government slogans, calling on political and religious figures to lead them and promising to overthrow Mnangagwa.

Police officers stationed in the area noticed that some 200 people had gathered and went up to gently disperse the group.

During the altercation, the gang allegedly fired projectiles at police personnel and piled bricks and stones along Robert Mugabe Road.

As stated by the prosecution, the accused shared videos and images of their conduct on social media and sung protest songs.

The State also explained that, these acts were intentional attempts to incite violence and subvert the incumbent president’s constitutional power.

Authorities are still looking into who planned the demonstration and trying to figure out how well-coordinated it was.

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