2 Harare residents removed from remand after torture, as 39 war vets return to court

Two Harare residents Lengwani Mavhunga & Munyaradzi Mafararikwa have been set free today & removed from remand after they were arrested, detained & tortured in April 2021 before being charged with obstructing or endangering free movement of persons or traffic.

Mavhunga & Mafararikwa, who were represented by Jiti Webster of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), were hospitalised at Parirenyatwa Hospital after they were assaulted & tortured in detention while Mavhunga’s face was sprayed with a white substance.

In removing the duo from remand, the Magistrate ruled that Mavhunga & Mafararikwa have a right to a fair trial & public trial within a reasonable time of which they were not tried since they were arrested on 15 April 2021.

Prosecutors were ordered to proceed by summoning the two if they intend to prosecute them again.

Meanwhile, at Harare Magistrates Court, the trial of 39 liberation war veterans for allegedly singing “Chimurenga Liberation Songs” is scheduled to commence.

Prosecutors have amended State papers to state that the war veterans were singing Chimurenga Liberation Songs”.

Initially, prosecutors had stated that the war veterans were singing “Chimurenga Songs”.

They are being represented by Paida Saurombe, Tinashe Chinox and Chawaona Kanoti of ZLHR.

Zwnews