ZRP Briefly Arrests Job Sikhala's Lawyer Jeremiah Bamu Before Releasing Him Without Charge

ZRP this morning briefly arrested Job Sikhala’s Lawyer Jeremiah Bamu as he was at Rotten Row Court waiting to represent his client who will appear in court today. According to journalist Brezh Malaba, Bamu was arrested for defying an instruction by riot police to disperse:

One of Job Sikhala’s lawyers has been arrested at Harare’s Rotten Row court carpark after defying an instruction by riot police to disperse. They’ve handcuffed & whisked him off in a truck. The MDC-Alliance deputy chairperson faces a charge of inciting public violence.

Bamu was briefly detained before he was released according to open Parly that tweet the update on Twitter.

Jeremiah Bhamu, (lawyer representing #Sikhala) who was taken by police earlier had been released without charge #OpenParlyZW pic.twitter.com/VaLTMnLhCJ

— Open Parly ZW (@OpenParlyZw) August 22, 2020

Riot Police also dispersed people who had gathered at the courts waiting for the MDC Vice Chairman’s court appearance.

Bamu’s brief arrest had already raised eyebrows as the issue of Beatrice Mtetwa being thrown off Hopewell Chin’ono who is facing the same charges’ case made the people speculate that the state is now going after lawyers and people’s rights to fair representation.

Source: Brezh Malaba