ZCTU leaders remanded in custody 09-05-08

 

ZCTU PRESS RELEASE

SUBJECT: ZCTU Leaders remanded in custody

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) leaders who were arrested on Thursday 8 May 2008, have been remanded in custody to Monday 12 May 2008 pending court determination of their bail application.

Mr Lovemore Matombo and Mr Wellington Chibebe, President and Secretary General of the ZCTU respectively appeared in court this morning around 10:00 am where their lawyer, Aleck Muchadehama applied for a bail, but a Harare Magistrate said she would only deliver her verdict on the bail application on Monday.

The court, however, heard that the government had already made a decision before today's hearing that in the event that the courts had granted them bail, the government would have evoked certain sections of the law that gives it power to override the court's decision. It appeared that a decision had already been made by the State not to grant them bail under whatever circumstances.

The state claimed that the two would abscond if given bail, despite the fact that they had voluntarily given themselves up to the police. It also claimed that they would commit similar cases and threaten witnesses.

While the State prosecutor tried to link their case to the current wave of political violence in the country, the ZCTU lawyers made it clear that the case had nothing to do with the current violence and that the ZCTU leaders were merely addressing workers on Workers day.

The two ZCTU leaders were arrested after they presented themselves to the police on Thursday 8 May 2008 where they were initially interrogated for more than six hours before charges were laid against them. They had availed themselves to the police after armed police had visited their residences searching for them.

The allegations arise from speeches which the two made at this year's May Day celebrations at Dzivaresekwa Stadium.

Aleck Muchademehama, a human rights lawyer who is representing the two said he was disappointed that his clients, after presenting themselves to the police were being treated as criminals and also that their application for bail was a clear case.

Muchadehama also complained that the detention of Matombo and Chibebe after they presented themselves was not only illegal, but also unlawful. They were also held under filthy conditions were the cells had urine and bedbites.

It appears the police decided to bring them to court only to legitimize their detention until next week since the Zimbabwean law stipulates that the police can detain any suspect for a maximum of 48 hours, excluding weekends and public holidays, before he or she is brought to court. The 48 hours had expired.