ZCTU press release 12-05-08

 

ZCTU PRESS RELEASE

SUBJECT: ZCTU Leaders denied bail

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) leaders who were arrested on Thursday 8 May 2008, appeared in court today 12 May 2008 where they were denied bail.

Presiding Magistrate, Mariga, reminded the two ZCTU leaders to 23 May 2008. in her one sentence judgment, she said the two were not suitable for bail and they have to be in custody in the interest of justice. ZCTU lawyer, Aleck Muchandehama is in the meantime making frantic efforts to lodge an appeal aginst the judgment at the High Court.

The ZCTU views the judgment as unprecedented and of political nature as the State had indicated prior to the judgment that it would evoke certain sections of the law that gives it power to override the court's decision in the instances were the magistrate had given the ZCTU leaders bails.

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.

During the court hearing last Saturday, the State prosecutor tried to link the case to the current wave of political violence in the country.

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.

The leaders are current being held at Harare Remand Prison.

Last Tarabuku
Acting Information Officer
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions
P.O Box 3549
Harare, Zimbabwe

Telephone 263-4-794702/794742
Cell 263 11 620 231
Fax 263-4- 728484
E-mail info@zctu.co.zw
Website www.zctu.co.zw