By 
Harare Magistrate Yeukai Dzuda has dismissed an application to clear the gallery that was submitted by the minor’s defence counsel in the case of the 25 Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activists who were arrested on Saturday.
They are facing allegations of gathering with an intent to promote public violence.
Dzuda excused the minor from the bail hearing proceedings and was remanded to February 3.
In her ruling Dzuda highlighted that, the minor would suffer no prejudice if the bail proceeding are done in her absence.
“She will join the other accused on the same date, she suffers no prejudice if she is excused from proceedings at this point.”
“This case is going to be held in an open court and the gallery will not be cleared” she said.
She added that she will deal with the issue of separating trials later.
The 25 accused persons who are now charged together with another CCC lawmaker Costa Machingauta, bail application commenced with the Investigating Officer George Garauzive testifying against them.
Garauzive said Machingauta is not a proper candidate for bail since he escaped arrest on the first day, he later surrendered himself to the police after three days he heard that the police are in search of him.
He added that, the other accused persons are also not proper candidates for bail because they resisted arrest as a group and he further said they were violent and intolerant.
CCC lawmaker Amos Chibaya together with 23 others and a 17 year old minor were arrested after they had gathered at Machingauta’s place of residence for a private meeting.
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