A Beitbridge-based pro-democracy campaigner remains in custody despite being granted bail by the Masvingo High Court on Monday last week.
Bhekimpilo Mbedzi, who is the Matabeleland South provincial chairperson of the National Democratic Working Group, was granted US$200 bail by High Court Judge Christopher Dube-Banda.
The ruling overturned an earlier decision by the Beitbridge Magistrates’ Court to keep him in detention.
The order followed an urgent appeal by his lawyer, Patrick Tererai, who argued that the activist had been denied his constitutional right to a speedy trial.
However, Mbedzi has not yet been released. One of the bail conditions requires him to surrender his passport, but his family has been unable to locate the travel document, which is also understood to have expired. The requirement has become a new obstacle to his release.
Tererai told CITE that efforts were underway to have the passport-related condition removed. He said the process has been delayed because the High Court is currently on vacation.
“The bail conditions had a requirement that he surrender his passport. His wife could not locate the passport at home, and the passport is also expired, so we are working on having that condition removed. Unfortunately, the High Court is on vacation, and there’s a holiday,” Tererai said.
Asked whether that meant Mbedzi will remain in prison for longer despite having been granted bail, Tererai said that unfortunately it did, but he expected the bail condition to be altered on Thursday after the holiday.
Mbedzi, 41, was arrested after publicly calling on Zimbabweans to reject the recently enacted Constitution Amendment Act No. 3, which has drawn criticism from citizens, opposition activists, civil society organisations and some constitutional experts.
He was charged with incitement as defined in Section 187 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act and with inciting an unlawful gathering as defined in Section 7(1)(a) of the Maintenance of Peace and Order Act.
Prosecutors allege that on 10 July 2026, Mbedzi recorded and posted a video on Facebook mobilising and inciting members of the public to take part in an unlawful gathering on 31 July, without giving notice to the regulating authority, the police, in protest against the enactment of the Constitution of Zimbabwe Amendment (No. 3) Act, 2026.
They further allege he was seen holding a placard inscribed “No To 2030” while mobilising people to join him in demonstrating against the amendment.
The State charged that Mbedzi acted unlawfully as his actions were intended to persuade and induce people to commit a crime, in violation of both Acts.
His Samsung Galaxy mobile phone was seized by police officers.
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