Crimes and Courts Correspondent
Harare – Amos Chibaya, an activist from the Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), remains in custody after his bail hearing was postponed to Thursday. Chibaya was arrested on Monday under allegations of inciting public violence, a charge that has drawn significant attention amid ongoing tensions between the opposition and the ruling party.
Chibaya appeared before Harare magistrate Dennis Mangosi, where he was not required to enter a plea. The State claims that Chibaya was involved in protests at the Harare Magistrate Court in June, where CCC activists demanded the release of 77 party members who had been denied bail, including their interim leader, Jameson Timba.
According to the allegations, Chibaya organized a meeting at the entrance of the court, where he was joined by fellow activists Agency Gumbo and Ostallos Gift Siziba. During this gathering, Chibaya reportedly made incendiary remarks, stating,
“Chi regime chinotya vanhu, chikaona vanhu chinobvunda, Havana kuhwina maelections, togona kufuma tavakutonga, Zimbabwe haisi yeZANU PF, Zimbabwe is not a Mnangagwa Dynasty yekumbunyikidza vanhu zvinofanira kupera.”
This translates to a strong denunciation of the ruling party, suggesting that the regime fears the people and has failed to win elections legitimately.
The State further alleges that Chibaya encouraged attendees to mobilize in large numbers to pressure authorities into releasing their detained colleagues. Witnesses reportedly promised Chibaya that they would;
“Tichavatora Nechisimba, eheeee,” which means they would forcibly take the prisoners out.
Chibaya’s arrest and the charges against him highlight the ongoing struggles faced by opposition activists in Zimbabwe, where political dissent is often met with harsh repercussions. The situation reflects broader concerns about the shrinking space for civic engagement and the increasing repression of opposition voices in the country.
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