HARARE – Zimbabwean opposition politician Jacob Ngarivhume on Wednesday was granted bail at his fourth attempt since being detained on 20 July for calling protests against corruption and the country’s economic crisis.
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High Court judge Siyabona Musithu granted his appeal against the ruling of a lower court that had denied him bail and said “the magistrate erred.”
He was ordered to pay 50,000 Zimbabwe dollars ($602), surrender his passport and report to the police three times a week.
Ngarivhume, the leader of Transform Zimbabwe, has been charged with inciting public violence.
He was arrested alongside investigative journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, who remains in prison on similar charges.
Chin’ono, who had tweeted his support for the protests, is also expecting a verdict on a bail application on Wednesday.
The protests had been planned for 31 July, the second anniversary of a general election won by President Emmerson Mnangagwa amid accusations of fraud.
The demonstrations were subsequently banned on the grounds of coronavirus restrictions.
Ngarivhume and Chin’ono are among a number of government critics and opposition activists arrested in recent months for voicing concern about the country’s mounting problems.
President Cyril Ramaphosa said on Monday he would be sending a second batch of envoys to Zimbabwe within “days” in a fresh attempt to resolve the crisis.
A first delegation last month did not meet opposition parties and was widely criticised for failing to confront President Emmerson Mnangagwa about the crackdown on dissent.
Western diplomats in Harare last week warned Zimbabwe against using the coronavirus pandemic to crush dissent.
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