Eighteen protesters who allegedly invaded and caused damage
to a police in station in Marondera on Thursday appeared before magistrate
Ignatius Mugova facing charges of public violence.
The accused who were represented by
Marondera lawyer David Dhumbura, a member of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human
Rights, were denied bail and ordered to return to court tomorrow.
According to court papers, on January 15, at around 11am,
the accused persons were acting in connivance with other accomplices who were
gathered at the corner of Nyaguwe Road and Chikomo Drive, Dombotombo in
Marondera.
They allegedly barricaded the road with stones and started
burning tyres while throwing stones at police officers. They were part of mobs
who were demonstrating against the recent hike in fuel prices and general
economic hardships in the country.
The accused persons advanced towards ZRP Dombotombo Police
Station while throwing stones. They allegedly broke into the police station and
ransacked all the three station offices destroying furniture, criminal records
and stole property which included cellphones, riot shields, helmets, hand held
radios, base station radio, baton sticks, an HP laptop, cash, police riot gear,
tear smoke canisters and bicycles.
The accused also allegedly assaulted police officers on
duty who sustained injuries. The 18 were later arrested when police and other
security reinforcements were called.
The total value of the damaged and stolen property is
approximately $30 000.
John Hama and Rumbidzai Katsande represented the state.
Standard
0 comments:
Post a Comment