Harare – Ninety-eight suspected protestors, arrested for allegedly taking to the streets of Harare on March 31st to demand President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s resignation, were denied bail on Friday by Harare magistrate Isheanesu Matova. The ruling comes as members of parliament (MPs), including those from the opposition, are set to receive prime residential stands in Harare’s affluent Borrowdale district, a move critics are interpreting as a potential attempt to quell growing dissent against the President.
In his ruling, Magistrate Matova sided with the prosecution’s argument that the group would likely commit the same offence if released on bail. “It is in the interest of justice that the accused persons should be detained on the grounds of public safety,” said Matova. “The release of the accused will likely cause commotion in the country and lead them to reconvene with their leader.”
Of the 98 accused, 95 are scheduled to return to court on April 24th for their routine appearance, while the remaining three are appearing separately. Prosecutors allege that the group participated in an unlawful gathering with the intention of inciting public violence.
According to the State’s case, on March 31, 2025, at approximately 9:20 AM, the suspects congregated at Robert Mugabe Square, also known as Freedom Square, with the intention of marching through the streets of Harare. Prosecutors further allege that the group planned to proceed “to the State House of Zimbabwe and forcibly remove the constitutionally elected President Emmerson Mnangagwa.”
The State alleges the group was making 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 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 further alleges.
Meanwhile, the announcement that MPs are to receive prime residential stands in Borrowdale has drawn sharp criticism, particularly given that many of these same legislators received US$40,000 housing loans just two years prior.
Opposition MPs, including Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) Chief Whip Bridget Nyandoro, led by self-styled Secretary General Sengezo Tshabangu, are reportedly among the beneficiaries of this latest land allocation. The land, located in Marlborough, Borrowdale Central, and Greystone Park, was originally designated for a community centre.
“This is a project being carried out throughout the cities and provinces after Local Government Minister Daniel Garwe wrote letters to various local authorities for them to avail land for legislators to build their residential homes,” Zanu PF Chief Whip Pupurai Togarepi told a local daily. “The MPs will pay for the stands, with the strategy being to remove MPs from hotels.”
Zimbabwean MPs have been ‘living their best lives’ since Mnangagwa’s takeover, getting loans, increased allowances and even free passage at tollgates.
Geza has been calling for Mnangagwa’s immediate resignation, accusing him of orchestrating grand corruption by cronies around him.
What raises further questions is that some of the beneficiaries actually got a minimum of US$40,000 in 2022 while Cabinet Ministers pocketed US$500,000 in what were presented as housing loans.
Marondera Central legislator Caston Matewu, whose name appeared on a list of beneficiaries took to social media, confirmed the news and said he had not taken the Zanu PF offer.
“While I was on the list of a Parliamentary Housing Scheme; I did not accept it. I did not take or grab any land as alluded to,” said Matewu.
The timing of the land allocation, coming shortly after Geza’s calls for impeachment and the mass arrests of protestors, has fuelled speculation that the government is attempting to appease legislators and stifle potential dissent. The offer of prime land, particularly to opposition MPs, raises questions about transparency and potential conflicts of interest.
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