Accessibility links

Breaking News

Lawyers Seek To Arrange Medical Care For Detained Zimbabwean Activists


Lawyers for detained Zimbabwe Peace Project Director Jestina Mukoko and political activists being held by police said Tuesday they have been trying to get their clients medical care.

Harare Magistrate Mishrod Guvamombe on Monday ruled that Mukoko and activists of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change should be allowed to see doctors of their choice while being held on charges that they conspired to overthrow the government.

Lawyers for the detained, who number about 40, also charged they were severely tortured.

The court is expected to rule Wednesday on the detainees’ application for release on bail.

Authorities have defied a High Court ruling saying the detainees should be hospitalized. The state is appealing that ruling in the Supreme Court.

Mukoko and the others are accused of recruiting government opponents for military training in Botswana aiming to bring down the government, and of bombing police stations.

Defense lawyer Alec Muchadehama told reporter Jonga Kandemiiri of VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that he and other attorneys have asked the court to oblige the police to disclose the names of those responsible for the wave of abductions over the past 10 weeks.

More reports from VOA's Studio 7 for Zimbabwe...
XS
SM
MD
LG