Former Zanu PF lawmaker Temba Mliswa, who was arrested Sunday in Esigodini, Matabeleland South province, together with 23 other members of his Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy on allegations they held a public meeting, has been released on bail by a local magistrate.
Mliswa’s lawyer Lizwe Jamela of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said the other 23 members were eventually released without any charges while the former Zanu PF provincial chairperson for Mashonaland West was charged with allegedly violating some provisions of the Public Order and Security Act.
“They went to a public place, some restaurant in Esigodini to get some refreshments. While they were waiting to be served, we are made to believe that that is when some people and police said that they were holding some unsanctioned meeting,” Jamela said.
Jamela said the magistrate remanded Mliswa to June 22nd on free bail and ordered him not to interfere with witnesses.
Mliswa and his group had earlier clashed with a local councillor who accused him of holding a meeting in his jurisdiction without first informing him.
Jamela said he was not sure whether his client’s arrest had anything to do with his clash with the councilor. – VOA