On Thursday, a Zimbabwean court denied bail to 95 people arrested during a protest against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s leadership, keeping them in custody on public safety grounds.
The group, comprised of men and women aged between 20 and 63, was arrested on March 31 during a demonstration in central Harare. The protest, organized by Blessed Geza — a veteran of Zimbabwe’s 1980 war of independence and former ZANU-PF member — called for Mnangagwa to step down. Police charged the detainees with breaching the peace and participating in a gathering with intent to incite public violence, offenses that could carry prison terms of up to five years.
Magistrate Isheunesu Matova ruled against granting bail, citing the potential for unrest if the accused were released. “Their release is likely to cause commotion and allow them to regroup,” he said.
Despite a relatively small turnout — police estimated about 200 demonstrators in Harare — the protest triggered heightened tensions, prompting businesses in several cities to shut down for the day.
Three other individuals arrested during the same protest are already on trial for similar charges.
President Mnangagwa, who rose to power after ousting long-time leader Robert Mugabe in a 2017 military coup, has faced growing criticism for suppressing dissent and stifling the political opposition. Activists and observers accuse his administration of veering toward authoritarianism.
Meanwhile, prominent journalist Blessed Mhlanga has been in detention since February 24, facing charges related to his interviews with protest organizer Geza.
