SELF-STYLE King Munhumutapa born Timothy Chiminya, who has been languishing in remand prison for more than a month, is now a free man after the High Court granted him US$200 bail.
In a statement, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said Chiminya was set free at the High Court in Harare after having been in remand prison on December 16 last year.
Harare magistrate Isheunesu Matova denied Chiminya bail when he appeared in court on January 8 this year.
“The magistrate ruled that he is a security threat and did not deserve to be released from prison as he had dethroned some traditional leaders who were installed by President [Emmerson] Mnangagwa and that some subjects of the chiefs, who were removed, were bound to ‘fight’ the chiefs, whom he had installed,” the rights lawyers said.
This compelled Chiminya’s lawyer, Gift Mtisi of ZLHR, to file an appeal against magistrate Matova’s decision at Harare High Court on January 7, 2025, seeking his release from detention on bail.
“On Friday January 31, 2025, High Court judge Justice Faith Mushure upheld Chiminya’s appeal and set aside magistrate Matova’s decision denying the traditional leader bail.”
ZLHR said Chiminya was granted US$200 bail or its ZiG equivalent.
Chiminya was restricted to a 25km radius from Harare Central Police Station until the matter was finalised.
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According to ZLHR, the judge ordered Chiminya to report twice every week on Mondays and Fridays at Harare Central Police Station until his matter is finalised.
He was also ordered to surrender his passport to the clerk of court at Harare Magistrates Court and not to interfere with State witnesses or investigations.
Justice Mushure ordered Chiminya to continue residing at his given address until finalisation of the matter.
Chiminya returns to court on March 5 this year.
