Rights groups decry Zimbabwe’s detention of opposition

In a move condemned by human rights groups, the Zimbabwean High Court on Wednesday upheld a lower court ruling denying bail to opposition leader Jameson Timba and 78 activists.

The group was arrested last month for holding an unauthorized gathering.

Timba, interim leader of the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), was detained alongside party youth members in the capital, Harare. Authorities charged them with gathering with intent to incite public violence.

A Magistrates Court previously denied their bail requests.

Amnesty International denounced the continued imprisonment, calling it “lengthy” and “baseless.”

The organization’s deputy regional director for East and Southern Africa, Khanyo Farise, demanded their immediate release, stating their detention for over a month was “an outrage.”

Defense lawyers for the accused have alleged police brutality during the arrest, with some activists sustaining injuries.

Despite these claims, the High Court judge on Wednesday refused to overturn the lower court’s decision. He argued that the gathering on the day of arrest was not random, suggesting premeditation.

The CCC party condemned the court’s decision as “unjust.”

They pointed out that bail is a constitutional right, and the government is blatantly denying it to innocent citizens.

The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, providing legal support to the detained, vowed to explore all “legal options to assert their right to liberty.”

Scroll to Top