High Court denies bail for Jameson Timba and 76 other activists

ZIMSPHERE 

HARARE – In a move that has elicited widespread condemnation, the High Court has denied bail to Jameson Timba, a faction leader of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party, and 76 other activists. 

The group had been arrested over a month ago for attending an unauthorized meeting and disorderly conduct. Their initial bail application was shot down by Magistrate Ruth Moyo, prompting a High Court appeal. 

According to Agency Gumbo, a member of the legal team representing Timba and the other CCC activists, the court's decision is a "travesty of justice." 

Gumbo expressed disappointment, stating, "Bail is a constitutional right, and even in the first place, we assert that the CCC members should not have been arrested. People have a right to associate, people have a right to organize."

The opposition party has accused the government of using detention as a tactic of political suppression, claiming that Timba and the other activists have been in pretrial detention since their arrest on June 16.