Zimbabwe court grants bail to 10 out of 68 anti-government protesters

A court in Zimbabwe has granted bail to 10 out of 68 people arraigned over public violence. They were charged for their part in an opposition protest a week ago.

A united opposition front took to the streets to demand electoral reforms ahead of 2018 polls in the southern African country rocked by an economic crisis.

A group called the Zimbabwe lawyers for Human Rights, who have been representing some of the accused confirmed the bail via their twitter handle, ‘‘10 out of the 68 who are being charged with public violence over last Friday’s demo have just been granted bail by Magistrate Tendai Mahwe,’‘ they tweeted.

10 out of the 68 who are being charged with public violence over last Friday's demon have just been granted bail by Magistrate Tendai Mahwe

— ZLHR (@ZLHRLawyers) September 2, 2016

Before the ruling was delivered, a journalist in the court tweeted about how relatives of the accused were being asked to leave the court with only media and lawyers allowed to observe proceedings.

Local media reports that lawyers of those who were denied bail are heading to the High Court to try and secure bail for their clients.

Police on Thursday announced that they had banned all protests in the capital Harare for the next two weeks.

In a public notice issued on Thursday, the police said they lacked the capacity to contain any public disorder during public demonstrations.

“The capacity of the police will not be sufficient to avoid any public disorder caused during public demonstrations in the center of Harare,” police chief Newbert Saunyama said.

The ban starts on Friday, September 2 to Friday, September 16, 2016.

Zimbabwean opposition parties call of today's protests after govt issue 2 week ban on demos in Harare #NERAdemo pic.twitter.com/Jqvb7uamFx

— Samira Sawlani (@samirasawlani) September 2, 2016