The High Court freed 89 people arrested during protests against the government on March 31. Justice Muremba approved bail at US$100 for each person after they spent six weeks behind bars. A magistrate had earlier refused to release them despite others from the same group already going home. The judge told them to stay at their listed addresses until their case ends. Most must visit police stations every two weeks on Friday.
The court gave four people special permission to report at stations near their homes instead of Harare. Justice Muremba criticized prosecutors strongly during last week's hearing about their empty case file. She questioned how they could keep people locked up without witness statements. The prosecutor admitted they might struggle to prove anything against the protesters. He agreed the lower court made a mistake when refusing bail earlier. The judge wondered if keeping innocent people jailed for years before dropping charges showed fairness.
The court gave four people special permission to report at stations near their homes instead of Harare. Justice Muremba criticized prosecutors strongly during last week's hearing about their empty case file. She questioned how they could keep people locked up without witness statements. The prosecutor admitted they might struggle to prove anything against the protesters. He agreed the lower court made a mistake when refusing bail earlier. The judge wondered if keeping innocent people jailed for years before dropping charges showed fairness.
