HARARE – Police on Sunday said they were looking for two opposition activists accused of distributing flyers encouraging people to join anti-government demonstrations which had been called for last Friday.
National police spokesman Commissioner Paul Nyathi said Godfrey Karembera, 47, aka Madzibaba Veshanduko and Kudzai Weston Saruwaka “ran away from police officers during a high-speed chase while distributing fliers in Machipisa, Glenview and Budiriro suburbs recently.”
Police want to charge them with incitement to commit public violence.
The announcement came a day after 10 people, most of them elderly, appeared before a Harare magistrate accused of attempting to join the anti-government protest which had been dubbed the “One Million Men March.”
The demonstrations, called by war veteran Blessed Geza, failed to materialise after a heavy police deployment in urban centres.
Rose Chirenje, 65, of Sandton, Westgate, Nyarai Chigudu of Glen View 3 aged 52, Kenesia Jera, 62, of Whitecliff; Edward Mandikutse, 69, of Sunningdale 3, Dexter Jena, 69, of Muredzo Farm, Wedza, Hazvinei Machingura, 69, of Makomo Extension, Epworth; Stephen Chagwiza, 48, of Eastview; Jacob Masaraure, 75, of Lodia Farm, Chivhu; Mapengo Mapengo, 57, of Chizhanda Township, Mutoko; and Joephrey Chigwerewe, 70, of Huyuyu, Mutoko, appeared before magistrate Caroline Kuhudzayi charged with participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of peace or bigotry.
They were remanded in custody to Monday for their bail hearings.
Prosecutors allege that on October 17, the ten and other participants gathered near Africa Unity Square in central Harare, singing and dancing to a protest song: “Zvigananda chera mwena nguva yakwana, chera mwena zvigananda” , translated as “Economic saboteurs, your time is up.”
Police say they arrested the first six suspects at the scene and later tracked down the remaining four, who were allegedly hiding inside a silver Toyota Probox parked nearby.
Stones and boulders, which police claim were intended for use during the demonstration, were reportedly found stashed close to the square.
In an affidavit opposing bail, Detective Sergeant Lovemore Chisi of CID Law and Order argued that releasing the accused would pose a serious threat to public peace and national security.
“The nature of the offence suggests a propensity for inciting or engaging in further public disorder,” Chisi wrote. “If released, the accused could reignite unrest or embolden others, as the event was politically charged and aimed at destabilising the peace.”
He further warned that the accused might abscond trial “given the gravity of the offence and the lengthy custodial sentence it carries.”
Human rights advocates have in recent months voiced growing alarm over what they describe as the criminalisation of peaceful assembly in Zimbabwe, where authorities have repeatedly banned or dispersed anti-government gatherings and opposition rallies.
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