MDC supporters, who were arrested Wednesday on allegations that they engaged in disorderly conduct, complained they were arrested without first being advised of reasons for their arrest.
The accused, Godfrey Karembera, Shoko Zindoga, Victor Maramba, Honzeri Zondai, Gift Ben, Rose Chitsungo and Maria Tinago today appeared before magistrate Victoria Mashamba at the Harare Magistrates’ Courts facing charges of disorderly conduct meant to provoke the breach of peace.
The accused made a complaint before the magistrate that they were brutally assaulted with batons, including that they were arrested without being advised of the reason for their arrest.
One of the accused alleged he was even assaulted more after he asked why he was being arrested.
Accusations are that these seven on November 20 acted in common purpose with their accomplices, who are still at large and gathered outside Morgan Tsvangirai House in Harare.
The gathering was for an address titled Hope for the Nation Address by the MDC president, Nelson Chamisa.
The State claims that the gathering was unsanctioned and, therefore, illegal.
Karembera and his accomplices are accused of blocking the free movement of vehicular and human traffic.
Riot police on duty on the site engaged the accused with intention to clear them.
The State added it was then the accused started throwing stones and other missiles towards the police while chanting MDC slogans.
The accused were granted ZWL200 bail accompanied by reporting conditions to their nearest police station every Friday.
The trial will resume on January 14, 2020.