A Harare magistrate has set August 16 as the date to deliver a verdict on the bail ruling of three human rights activists – Robson Chere, Namatai Kwekweza, and Samuel Gwenzi.
According to reports, this comes after the completion of their bail hearing on Thursday, where the court finished questioning and cross-examining the arresting officer, Panganai Gwati.
Initially, the prosecution had planned to submit its written arguments on August 16, a move that was met with objection from the defense team.
The magistrate’s decision on bail will be eagerly awaited by the accused and their supporters.
“The bail hearing took us four days so the earliest possible date I will be able to file is the 16th,” said Anesu Chirenje.
One of the attorneys for the trio, Charles Kwaramba, expressed dissatisfaction with the State’s excessively lengthy request for time and the lack of necessity for written responses.
“This request by the State gives the state an unfair advantage because it secures the detention of the accused before they have been convicted.
“You can’t secure detention first and then secure compelling reasons after the caused have already been detained.
“That is the travesty of justice. It makes justice turn on its head. You can’t give effect to Bill of rights if the accused are being detained for two weeks before compelling reasons are given.
“This is an urgent matter. It is impossible to give the State one week to file its closing submissions,” said Kwaramba.
