The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) has secured the release of a Harare vendor who spent more than two months behind bars following his arrest over a dispute about public toilets and alleged insults directed at President Emmerson Mnangagwa.
Anashe Mundandi, 29, was detained by Zimbabwe Republic Police officers at Mbare bus terminus on 1 December 2025.
He faced charges of criminal nuisance under Section 46 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, read with paragraph 2(v) of the same statute.
Prosecutors claimed that Mundandi had interfered with the ordinary comfort, convenience, peace or quiet of the public by verbally confronting Ody Chikombo, a City of Harare employee cleaning a public toilet, criticising his work and suggesting others could perform the task better.
During the exchange, prosecutors alleged, Mundandi also insulted President Mnangagwa, referring to him as an insignificant person.
He was arraigned before Magistrate Dennis Mangosi at Harare Magistrates Court and denied bail on 10 December 2025, despite an application from his lawyer, Tapiwa Muchineripi of ZLHR. Mundandi then spent 57 days in police and prison custody.
His release came on 27 January 2026 after High Court Judge Gibson Mandaza granted him bail of $100, overturning the magistrate’s refusal.
Justice Mandaza also ordered Mundandi to report weekly to a local police station, remain at his registered address, and avoid interfering with state witnesses or investigations until his case concludes.
Mundandi’s trial on criminal nuisance charges resumed on 23 January 2026 at Harare Magistrates Court, with two state witnesses giving evidence.
He is expected to return to court on 26 February 2026, when the magistrate will rule on his application for discharge following the close of the prosecution’s case.
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