98 detained in Harare following Geza inspired protests on Monday
Court sets protesters' bail ruling for 10 April
By Staff Reporter
Ninety-eight people appeared at the Harare Magistrates’ Court on Tuesday for taking part in Monday protests called by rabble-rousing former Zanu PF central committee member Blessed Geza to demand President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s immediate exit.
The protests, called for the entire country by the fierce ally to Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, were forestalled by heavy police deployments on and during the period leading up to Monday.
But hordes of defiant youths who took their chance were unlucky after being rounded up by anti-riot police to face allegations of participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence.
The group was remanded in custody to April 10 for bail ruling.
Of the group, 95 appeared before provincial magistrate Isheunesu Matova who remanded them in custody while the other three appeared before provincial magistrate Ruth Moyo who also remanded them in custody.
The three were arrested at Copacabana bus terminus in the Harare CBD while the rest were arrested at the Robert Mugabe Square, the open space between the city centre and the exhibition park that has become a de facto venue for anti-government protests.
When they appeared in court, prosecutors opposed their bail.
Both the state and the defence will file some written arguments. A ruling was set for April 10.
According to the State, on 31 March 2025, just after 9AM, the suspects gathered at Robert Mugabe Square commonly known as the Freedom Square intending to march in the streets of Harare.
Prosecutors allege the group also wanted to proceed “to the State House of Zimbabwe and forcibly remove the constitutionally elected President Emmerson Mnangagwa”.
“The accused were making their vows of removing the President saying ‘enough is enough, Mnangagwa must go, ED must go nezvigananda zvake. Madzibaba veshanduko huyai mutitungamirire, comrade Geza huyai mutitungamirire and whistled’.
“Police officers who were deployed for maintenance of order observed about two hundred 200 people gathered and approached the group.
“The accused piled stones, bricks and tyres along Robert Mugabe Road. They threw stones towards the police officers whilst singing Hatidi zvekupihwa order nemasasikamu. They also took themselves pictures and videos which they posted on various social media platforms.
“The accused 1 to 94 were arrested at the crime scene while accused 95 was arrested at his residence through identification from circulating pictures and videos,” the state alleges.
