President of the Amalgamated Rural Teachers Union (ARTUZ), Obert Masaraure had his warrant of arrest cancelled on Tuesday following his arrest on allegations of violating bail conditions.
Masaraure is out on bail on a treason charge, having been arrested early this year in the aftermath of the January 2019 fuel protests.
He was arrested again last week after he allegedly failed to report to Wedza police station as he is employed as a teacher at Chemhanza High School in the same district.
Harare magistrate Babra Mateko on Tuesday cancelled Masaraure’s arrest warrant before she warned him to adhere to his bail conditions.
Masaraure argued that he reported to the police station on the day in question, 14 June 2019, but was informed that Form 126 where he was supposed to sign was with the officer in charge, who was not around and his whereabouts were unknown. Said Masaraure:
I requested the police officer who attended to me to inform the officer in charge that I came to report but could not wait as I had a flight to catch.
When I arrived in Namibia, I received a phone call from the officer in charge. You can verify this with Econet because my phone was on roaming. He informed me that there were security agents who were looking for me.
After his return to Zimbabwe on June 20, Masaraure reported to Wedza Police Station on the 21st before he was arrested.