By Costa Nkomo
Nicole Chabata, an O’level student arrested alongside Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party administrator and former minister Jameson Timba, has been granted bail after 92 days in detention.
Harare Magistrate Collet Ncube granted Chabata bail of US$50 today, allowing her to resume her education ahead of her upcoming O’level exams next month.
The state initially opposed Chabata’s bail application, but recently conceded that they had not verified her status as a student despite detaining her for over 90 days.
Her legal defence team had raised the issue of her status as a student throughout the detention period.
In his ruling, Magistrate Ncube stated that Chabata’s bail was granted by consent.
She has been ordered to pay US$50 bail to the court clerk, report to Epworth police station once a month between 6 am and 6 pm, and stay at her provided address in Epworth until the case is finalized.
Chabata’s release comes as a relief for her family human rights defenders who had been advocating for her release throughout her detention.
Her 92 days in jail have undoubtedly taken a toll on her mental and academic well-being.
Meanwhile, the bail ruling for the remaining CCC activists, including Timba, has been postponed to tomorrow.
The state requested more time to respond to Tambudzai Makororo’s bail application. Makororo suffered a broken leg during her arrest on June 16, 2024, in Avondale.
