Police in Bulawayo have released 22 members of the National Democratic Working Group (NDWG), including 17 women and five men, who were arrested while attending a prayer meeting in Emakhandeni on Saturday afternoon.
The group, which included a woman who had recently delivered a premature baby, was arrested while praying for a fellow member who was reportedly unwell.
The NDWG is a political grouping led by Job Sikhala.
NDWG members were initially taken to Emakhandeni Police Station before they were transferred to the CID Law and Order section at Bulawayo Central Police, where they were held without a formal charge.
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They have since been released while police formulate a charge, according to their lawyer, Prisca Dube of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).
Dube said police had indicated the members were allegedly “planning a demonstration”, but argued that merely planning a demonstration does not constitute an actionable offence.
“The members were said to be ‘planning a demonstration’, which is not an actionable offence. This is why they have been released. The matter will proceed by way of summons once they have formulated a charge,” Dube said.
She said some of the members had travelled from Chimanimani, Harare, Masvingo and Filabusi to attend the prayer meeting.
“There was a premature child, who was two months old, so they released them. Those that had come from Chimanimani, Harare, Masvingo and Filabusi are travelling back right now,” Dube said.
She said the police would liaise with the lawyers once they had formulated a charge, with the members expected to return from their respective homes if summoned.
The arrests had initially raised concern among the opposition-linked group after police reportedly raided the gathering while members were praying for one of their colleagues.
The NDWG leader confirmed the arrests and said the organisation had engaged legal practitioners to assist the members.
“The members, 17 women (one with an infant) and five men were at the home of one of our members in Emakhandeni. They were praying for the member because she was not feeling well,” Sikhala said.
“We were disappointed to learn that they were arrested. How can people be arrested while visiting one of their own, who is not feeling well? We have engaged lawyers to assist with the situation. We are advised that they are being held by the law and order police department.”
The arrests occurred against the backdrop of heightened scrutiny of opposition and civic activities in Zimbabwe, with authorities frequently requiring organisers of public gatherings to comply with legal requirements governing demonstrations and public meetings.
However, in this case, the members had not been charged with an offence by the time of their release.
Dube said the police would only proceed against the members once they had determined the specific charge and issued summonses.
The incident has nevertheless raised questions about the circumstances surrounding the arrest of the group,since the members said they had gathered for a prayer meeting rather than a demonstration.
The group included people who had travelled considerable distances to attend the gathering, adding to the disruption caused by the arrests.
The presence of women and a mother with a very young premature baby also drew attention to the circumstances in which the members were detained.
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