Citizens Coalition for Change activists and their interim leader Jameson Timba, accused of participating in an unsanctioned gathering, will further languish in jail after the State opposed bail on Wednesday.
The 80 were back before magistrate Ruth Moyo who also trashed their application in which they challenged further detention on grounds that the police brought them to court late, after 48 hours allowed by the law had lapsed.
The magistrate dismissed the application, ruling that full reasons for her ruling will be in her written judgement.
The court was given graphic details on how the activists were arrested.
All the suspects raised several complaints against the police who arrested them.
Through their lawyers, they said they were subjected to torture and humiliation.
The court was told of how they were lined on the ground and forced to make coital movements.
“During the time of arrest, the accused were severely tortured, they were made to crawl, and they were punished before they were convicted of any offence.
“There was excessive use of force during the time of arrest.
“The police used tear gas at a private residential property and also live ammunition was fired. All this happened at a private residential place,” said the lawyers.
They also said their clients were not informed of the reasons for their arrest.
“After being apprehended, the accused persons were made to dive into a swimming pool whilst putting on their clothes whilst holding their electric gadgets such as cellphones and in other words this exposed the accused to danger especially considering that not everyone has the ability to swim.
“As a result, most of the gadgets are no longer working.
“There are some accused who were soaked with water using a hose pipe.
“They were also coerced to sexual mimic whilst lying on the ground,” said the lawyers.
Thomas Chanakira, representing the state, said this will be investigated before he opposed bail.
He called the investigating officer Panganai Gwati who nailed the activists.
Gwati said the 80 were difficult to arrest, and they attacked arresting details.
He said they are now a threat to officers who are living in fear after they were promised to be punished for arresting the suspects.
“The accused used violence against the police who were wearing a national uniform who were trying to arrest them, Gwati said.
“Thereafter, the accused also made some threats towards the arresting details that they will make a follow up to their residents and deal with them.
“The police officers are the witnesses in this matter. They saw the accused at the scene of crime and arrested them and now they are in fear even to reside at their respective residence.
If granted bail the accused will team up with the 20 that escaped arrest at the scene and commit similar offences,” he said.
The 80 are being represented by top rights lawyers who include Jeremiah Bamu, Webster Jiti, Tinashe Chinopfukutwa, Agency Gumbo and Kelvin Kabaya among others.
The matter will continue Thursday with lawyers representing the activists cross-examining the IO.
