Ngarivhume denied bail for the third time

Harare, (New Ziana)-One of the organisers of the failed July 31 protests and leader of the obscure opposition Transform Zimbabwe party, Jacob Ngarivhume on Friday had his fresh bail application on changed circumstances thrown out by a Harare magistrate.

Magistrate Trynos Utahwashe ruled that Ngarivhume would be a danger to the public if released on bail, and remanded him in custody to September 4 this year.

“Changed circumstances are not sufficient to guarantee the safety of the public if the accused is granted bail,” he said.

Ngarivhume, who was first denied bail by magistrate Ngoni Nduna on July 24 and appealed to the High Court, where Justice Tawanda Chitapi on August 6 upheld the verdict of the lower court, filed a fresh bail application through his laywer Moses Nkomo citing changed circumstances.

Nkomo told journalists that they would be appealing against the ruling at the High Court.

“We have once again been denied bail again even on changed circumstances. The reason that was given for denial of bail was that there has not been sufficient change of circumstances,” he said.

“The court acknowledged that the 31st July came and went without incidence but then said that what was proposed then became a movement. The court said Ngarivhume was a founder of the 31st July Movement. We are actually hearing that for the first time. We will be appealing against the ruling at the High Court,” added.

Ngarivhume was arrested on July 20 this year and charged with inciting people to commit public violence after he allegedly called for people to participate in a demonstration on 31 July.

New Ziana