By Staff Reporter
Timba, 34 CCC members released on suspended sentence
Harare – Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) faction leader Jameson Timba and 34 party activists received wholly suspended sentences on Wednesday following their conviction last week for convening an unsanctioned gathering.
The veteran opposition politician and his allies had endured over five months in pre-trial detention following their arrest on June 16, a situation widely condemned by human rights groups and political observers.
Repeated efforts to secure bail during their detention were unsuccessful.
While detained, the CCC accused the government of manipulating the judicial process to deny the activists their freedom.
The ruling Zanu PF-led government has dismissed these allegations.
Timba and the 34 activists were among the first of approximately 160 opposition members and activists arrested ahead of the July summit of the 16-nation Southern African Development Community (SADC) in Harare.
They faced charges of gathering with the intent to promote violence, disturb public peace, or incite bigotry.
In his ruling, Magistrate Collet Ncube emphasized that the defendants were first-time offenders deserving of leniency.
“The court believes that since they are first offenders, they should be given another chance.
“Many of them struggle to raise even the fine, and most are breadwinners with unstable sources of income.
“Their continued detention would only burden their families,” ruled Ncube.
Male activists were handed 16-month sentences wholly suspended, while female activists received 12-month sentences, also wholly suspended.
