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Citizens Coalition for Change lawmaker Amos Chibaya and 23 others activists will spend their fifth night in custody after Harare Magistrate Yeukai Dzuda who is presiding over the matter failed to appear in court.
They are facing allegations of gathering with an intent to promote public violence.
Harare Magistrate Dennis Mungosi who took over the matter said, Dzuda who was supposed to give her ruling on whether to separate the trial of the 17-year-old minor from the 24 others or to clear the gallery was given a bed rest at the hospital.
“Dzuda has been given a bed rest and we have to postpone the matter to tomorrow at 11:15.
However, the Lead Defence Counsel Chris Mhike highlighted to Mungosi that they are not happy with the way the matter is been handled.
“We would like to place on record our concern, the manner this case is handled there is less respect of the fundamental rights of all the accused persons.
The case was postponed on Tuesday and the delays continue, the others are also entitled to liberty they are not convicts but they are treated as convicts. Our law established the rule of 48 hours rule to insure the right to liberty is not interfered with and this is the third time to appear in court an also the case of the minor is not treated as important.
He later highlighted the minor’s rights are violated, the right to education.
Mhike added that, “We wish to express our deepest concern as the defence because the accused are extremely languished with the manner this case is handled.
“Early on we made a request for an order that the accused must be allowed to eat and you were reluctant to intervene even the state was reluctant, accused persons have note eaten since six in the morning.
Mungosi later said he would assist them by talking to the Zimbabwe Prison and Correctional Services (ZPCS)officials.
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