MDC youth leader Siziba gets $1 000 bail

Published: 12 July 2019

MDC national youth secretary-general Gift Ostallos Siziba, who is accused of inciting public violence, was yesterday granted $1 000 bail with stringent bail conditions by a Harare magistrate.

Siziba (36), who was represented by Moses Nkomo from the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, appeared before deputy chief magistrate Elijah Makomo, who remanded the matter to July 24.

For the State, Sebastian Mutizirwa, Charles Muchemwa and Francisca Mukumbiri did not opposed Siziba's bail, but had proposed that he reports three times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday to the police, surrenders his passport and not to address a political gathering.

Nkomo then unsuccessfully asked for the court to allow his client to submit his passport on Monday next week, saying the document was in Bulawayo.

Makomo then released Siziba on $1 000 and ordered him to report three times a week on Monday, Wednesday and Friday at Law and Order police section, not to interfere with State witnesses, to reside at a given address and to surrender his passport.

Siziba was, however, not barred from addressing political gatherings.

Allegations are that between 10am and 4pm on July 7, Siziba attended an MDC rally in Glen Norah at the community hall which was attended by about 4 500 people.

While addressing the gathering, it is alleged that he incited the party supporters to engage in acts of public violence during the alleged anticipated demonstration in the country.

The prosecution said the accused incited the MDC youths to engage in public violence by burning tyres and placing stones and boulders on the roads, thereby disturbing peace, security and public order.

Allegations are that he also stated that youths were not intimidated by the Zanu PF government and were ready to remove it from power.

He allegedly also said the youths would not be deterred by threats of arrest, because their own houses were already prisons.

The State said Siziba's utterances were meant to incite members of the public to engage in acts of violence against the State.
- newsday

Tags: MDC,