Africa-Press – Zimbabwe. Zimbabwe Independent editor Faith Zaba was granted US$200 bail on Friday, 4 July, by Harare magistrate Vakayi Chikwekwe, following her arrest on charges of undermining the authority of the President.
Zaba spent three cold nights in remand prison after being charged over a satirical piece published in the weekly newspaper’s Muckraker column last Friday.
She first appeared in court on Tuesday, a day after her arrest. However, her bail application was initially postponed after the State requested more time to verify her medical history.
When she returned to court on Thursday, the hearing was delayed again, this time due to a power outage at the Harare Magistrates Court.
On Friday, the State did not oppose her bail application. In granting bail, Magistrate Chikwekwe said bail is a constitutional right, and detention is only justified when there are compelling reasons to deny it. She said:
The fears of the state have been allayed by the bail conditions which the defence agreed with.
As part of her bail conditions, Zaba was ordered to surrender her passport to the Clerk of Court, reside at her stated address, refrain from interfering with witnesses or investigations, and report to CID Law and Order in Harare every Friday until the case is finalised.
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