Sikhala, 7 MDC supporters granted bail

Sikhala, 7 MDC supporters granted bail

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By Staff Reporter

A ZIMBABWEAN opposition lawmaker and seven supporters, detained for breaching electoral laws during local council polls at the weekend, were released on bail on Tuesday, their lawyer said.

"The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) member of parliament Job Sikhala and seven party members have been released on ZIM$300 000 (about R19) each," said lawyer Dzimbahwe Chimbga.

"They were charged under the Electoral Act but we are going to apply for their discharge when they appear for their next remand in two weeks' time."

Sikhala and the opposition backers, among them a 17-year-old boy, were arrested at the close of a local council election in the southern Harare township of Chitungwiza on Saturday, Chimbga said.

They were accused of campaigning close to a polling station but Chimbga said they were arrested while sitting in a truck "parked well beyond the stipulated distance and after the real voting".

Zimbabwe's electoral rules forbid campaigning or wearing political party regalia within a 200m radius of a polling station.

Voters cast their ballots Saturday in low-key polls to elect councillors in five wards across the country.

The ruling Zanu-PF won four of the contested seats while the MDC won one.

The MDC, once seen as the crisis-hit southern African country's first real opposition against long-time leader Robert Mugabe's government, is facing a split after a leadership wrangle following senate polls held in November - Sapa-AFP
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