THE month-long detention of pro-democracy campaigner Emmanuel Sitima has come to an end after Mbare Magistrate Tinashe Ndokera set him free by ordering his release from prison on bail.
Sitima, a former leader of the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), had spent 64 days in both police and prison detention after he was arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police officers on 14 May 2026 and charged with malicious damage to property as defined in section 140 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and also disorderly conduct in a public place as defined in section 41 (a) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
According to prosecutors, Sitima allegedly threw some fliers written “Save Zimbabwe Campaign, No to 2030” at some residence in Harare including throwing stones at the same residence, which reportedly damaged a window pane valued at US$10. Sitima was first denied bail at Mbare Magistrates Court and later appealed against his denial of freedom at the High Court, where his appeal was dismissed.
This then compelled his lawyers, Arnold Tsunga and Jeremiah Bamu of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), to file a new application at Mbare Magistrates Court asking for the release of Sitima on bail, based on changed circumstances, considering that Takunda Mhuka, his co-accused person, had been set free by the High Court.
On Wednesday 17 June 2026, Sitima was set free by Magistrate Ndokera, who granted him US$100 bail and ordered him to continue residing at his given residential address, to report once every fortnight at a local police station and not to interfere with state witnesses.
Meanwhile, Mhuka, a pro-democracy campaigner, who was represented by Marufu Mandevere of ZLHR, is a relieved man after he was granted US$100 bail on 11 June 2026 by High Court Judge Justice Esther Muremba, who also ordered him to report once every fortnight at a local police station and to continue residing at his given residential place and not to interfere with state witnesses.
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