Mutare police released 178 members of the National Constitutional Assembly arrested Wednesday during anti-government demonstrations after the detained activists paid fines of Z$250 apiece, sources in the civil society organization said Thursday.
Equivalent to just one U.S. dollar, the fine is as stipulated by law for illegal assembly but has been overtaken by the country's roaring inflation, now over 1,200%.
But 17 activists remained in custody in the Midlands city of Gweru and in the south central city of Masvingo, according to NCA Chairman Lovemore Madhuku.
In Harare, one of four NCA members reportedly abducted and assaulted by ZANU-PF youths in Wednesday's attempted demonstration there has come forward. Simon Moto told reporter Carole Gombakomba of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe he was subjected to beatings and forms of torture within the ruling party’s Harare headquarters.