The ManicaPost
Tendai Gukutikwa Post Correspondent
ZIMBABWE National Students’ Union president, Allister Pfunye and union member, Takunda Hungwe were remanded out of custody, while 17 others were released without any charges for holding an unsanctioned meeting in Mutare last Saturday.
The 19 ZINASU members were arrested at the Forest Industry Training Centre in Penhalonga where they had allegedly gathered to hold an unsanctioned political meeting contrary to a students’ welfare meeting. Mr Walter Saunyama prosecuted.
The 17 whose charges were dropped and released promptly were Roman Catholic priest, Reverend Father Nigel Johnson (ZINASU board chairman), Pride Mkono (former ZINASU president), Precious Manyoka (ZINASU vice-president), Melissa Museka (international relations secretary), Samuel Gwenzi (ZINASU co-ordinator) and 12 student leaders from different universities across the country. They were facing disorderly conduct charges.
However, Pfunye and Hungwe’s matters will proceed to trial.
In citing his reasons for their release, the presiding magistrate, Mr Poterai Gwezhira, said it was their constitutional right to be advised of what they were being charged with before their arrest, but it had taken the police more than 24 hours to furnish the students and their lawyers with their charge. Pfunye (24) is being charged with contravening Section 25(1)(a) of the Public Order and Security Act, Chapter 11:17 after he allegedly failed to notify the regulating authority of a public gathering he had with his colleagues at FITC in Penhalonga last Saturday.
It is alleged that Pfunye unlawfully held a public gathering without giving notice neither verbal nor written to the regulating authority for the district in which the public gathering was being held. It was also alleged that Pfunye was arrested while wearing a yellow T-shirt inscribed the words: ‘Tajamuka, Enough is enough, corrupt Government officials, stolen $15 billion, No salary for civil servants, police brutality, bond paper, taneta hatichada sesideniwe, this flag, kurova mapoto, Mugabe must go’.
The State further alleged that the words that were inscribed on Pfunye’s T-shirt indicated that they had gathered for the purposes of an unsanctioned political meeting contrary to a student welfare meeting.
The pair was remanded to October 11, 2016 for trial. Bail was set on $100 each on condition that they reside at their given addresses and not to interfere with State witnesses.
