A Harare magistrate, Collet Ncube, has ordered an inspection at the residence of Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) interim leader Jameson Timba.
This decision follows a successful request by lawyers representing 78 CCC activists arrested in June 2023 for allegedly participating in an unsanctioned gathering. The lawyers argue that the inspection will strengthen the evidence presented in their clients’ ongoing trial.
The activists claim that their arrests were violent, with police officers allegedly using excessive force during the operation. “When the accused were arrested, police used hoes to break open locked doors,” a lawyer for the activists stated. He also noted that officers forcibly entered Timba’s bedroom and seized his phone and laptop during the raid.
The inspection at Timba’s Avondale home aims to corroborate the activists’ accounts of the arrest and provide the court with a clearer understanding of the events.
“We intend to take all 78 accused persons to Timba’s house so they can elaborate on what transpired,” the lawyer added.
Magistrate Ncube granted the request for the inspection and stated that he would coordinate with the Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) to arrange the logistics. “I will inquire with the ZPCS about the number of prisoners who can attend the inspection in loco,” Ncube said.
The 78 activists were arrested on June 16, 2023, at Timba’s residence. The state alleges that the accused were planning to stage unlawful demonstrations in Harare. Prosecutors further claim that the activists were violent and stoned officers and their vehicles during the arrest.
However, the activists maintain that they were brutalized by police who stormed a private residence and disrupted a peaceful meeting. Some of the activists sustained serious injuries during the arrest. The upcoming inspection is expected to play a crucial role in determining the validity of these claims as the trial continues.
