Harare West MP Joana Mamombe, Cecilia Chimbiri and Netsai
Marova — have said their arrest over falsifying abduction was meant to cover up
their alleged abduction and torture at the hands of suspected security agents,
the Daily News reports.
This was detailed in a bail appeal filed by the trio’s
lawyers, Mbidzo, Muchadehama and Makoni, before High Court judge Erica Ndewere
yesterday.
Mamombe, Chimbiri and Marova were denied bail by Harare
regional magistrate Bianca Makwande on basis that their statements had
attracted international attention with serious repercussions on Zimbabwe’s
economy.
However, the appeal could not be heard yesterday and was
postponed to Monday to enable the State to file their response.
“The court a quo misdirected itself in failing to consider
the incidence of Covid-19 pandemic which renders it practically impossible to
flee to any foreign jurisdiction,” reads the appeal.
“The appellants made allegations of abduction and torture
by police and those acting in their cahoots. The police had then investigated
and absolved themselves contrary to provisions of the Constitution which
stipulate that there should be an independent complaints mechanism against the
police.”
They argued that Makwande ought to have considered bail
conditions that they had suggested but erred by failing to consider whether the
State’s fears could be allayed by imposition of stringent conditions.
“The court a quo ignored facts presented to it and
proceeded as if certain factual positions had been established when that was
not the case.
“It therefore made findings which are at variance with the
evidence.”
Meanwhile, a Harare woman — Chantelle Mnangagwa — who
allegedly masqueraded as President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s daughter before
allegedly committing fraud had her bail appeal postponed to June 25.
This was after the transcribed record of proceedings was
not eligible to be used for the proceedings. Daily News
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