MDC Alliance’s Harare West legislator, Joana Mamombe and her colleague, Cecillia Chimbiri were this Tuesday denied bail for the third time.
Mamombe and Chimbiri appeared before Harare Magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro who was ruling on their fresh bail application.
The duo has been in prison since March on charges of failing to confine themselves at home during the COVID-19 lockdown after they addressed a press conference to denounce the arrest of fellow MDC Alliance members.
After the ZLHR made a second bid to get the two out of Chikurubi Maximum Prison, Magistrate Vongai Muchuchuti-Guwuriro dismissed the bail application.
MDC Alliance responded saying bail is a constitutional right and also condemned the duo’s month-long incarceration. Said the party in a statement:
The MDCA duo have been denied bail a 3rd time. The court ruled that there were no changed circumstances. This pre-trial incarceration is designed to persecute these brave women for standing up to the regime. #FreeOurHeroes
Some commentators criticised the courts for denying bail to Mamombe and Chimbiri and accused the judiciary of being captured by the ruling party.
More: Pindula News