A BEITBRIDGE resident is languishing in prison after he was arrested by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers for allegedly inciting people to stage an anti-government protest in what is perceived as a broader onslaught against dissent over opposition to the recent and loathed amendment of the Constitution.
Bhekhimpilo Mbedzi, a 41 year-old resident of Beitbridge in Matabeleland South province, has spent more than one week in both police and prison custody after he was arrested by ZRP officers on 16 July 2026 and charged with incitement as defined in Section 187 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and inciting to conduct unlawful gathering as defined in Section 7(1)(a) of the Maintenance of Peace Act.
Prosecutors allege that Mbedzi self-recorded and posted a video on Facebook on 10 July 2026 mobilising and inciting members of the public to conduct an unlawful gathering on 31 July 2026, without giving notice to the regulatory authority, which is ZRP, in protest against the enactment of Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment) Act (No.3), 2026.
Mbedzi, prosecutors alleged, was seen holding a placard inscribed “No To 2030” while mobilising people to join him in demonstrating against the amendment of the Constitution.
The prosecutors charged that Mbedzi, who is represented by Patrick Tererai of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), acted unlawfully as his actions were intended to persuade and induce people to commit a crime, which violates the provisions of both the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and the Maintenance of Peace Act.
Mbedzi, whose Samsung Galaxy mobile phone handset was seized by ZRP officers and appeared in court for initial remand proceedings on 17 July 2026, remains in prison custody after he was denied bail by Beitbridge Resident Magistrate Takudzwa Gwazemba on 18 July 2026. The Magistrate dismissed his bail application after ruling that he would interfere with state witnesses.
Meanwhile, three Chinhoyi University of Technology (CUT) students pleaded not guilty when their trial on charges of disorderly conduct in a public place, commenced on 14 July 2026 at Chinhoyi Magistrates Court in Mashonaland West province.
The three CUT students namely Preston Paradzayi aged 24 years, Madanda Rangarirai aged 24 years and Lindon Zanga aged 22 years were arrested by ZRP officers on 21 March 2026 and charged with disorderly conduct as defined in Section 41(b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
According to prosecutors, Paradzayi, Rangarirai and Zanga, who are affiliated to the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU), acted unlawfully and intentionally engaged in a riotous conduct meant to provoke a breach of peace, when they allegedly forced entry into and disrupted a meeting organised by Zimbabwe Congress of Students Union (ZICOSU) and held at CUT Lecture Theatre Hall to discuss Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment) Bill (No.3), 2026.
Prosecutors claimed that the trio, which is represented by Kossam Ncube and Emmanuel Chibwe of ZLHR, together with other ZINASU members, refused to leave the venue when asked to do so and started making noise and shouting some obscenities thereby disturbing the meeting.
Chinhoyi Magistrate Franklin Mkhwananzi is presiding over the trial.
In Karoi, in Mashonaland West province, two residents John Marumisa aged 60 years and Lloyd Maviri aged 53 years, are being prosecuted after they were arrested at Chikangwe bus terminus on 6 July 2026 by ZRP officers, who charged them with incitement as defined in Section 187 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and incitement to commit public violence as defined in Section 36 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act. Alternatively, the duo was charged with criminal nuisance as defined in Section 46(v) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
Prosecutors alleged that Marumisa and Maviri unlawfully wore and distributed anti-Constitution of Zimbabwe (Amendment) Bill (No.3), 2026 commonly referred to as CAB-3 T-shirts written “ONE (WO)MAN, ONE VOTE, STOP CAB3” as a way of communicating to other persons and intending to persuade or induce them to commit a crime of public violence or realising that there was a real risk or possibility that other persons may be persuaded or induced by the communication to commit a crime of public violence.
Marumisa and Maviri, who are represented by Unite Saizi of ZLHR, deny the charges and argue that only one T-shirt, which was worn as a pyjama by the 60 year-old Marumisa and was found on the washing line, as opposed to accusations alleged by prosecutors of trying to persuade people to commit public violence.
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