THE trial of activists who are accused of burning down a ZBC motor vehicle commenced Thursday.
The accused who include the director of Zimbabwe Informal Sector Organisations director, Promise Mkwananzi, Tendai Mandimika, a freelance journalist, and MDC-T councilor for forward 31 Glenview among others are denying the allegations.
Some of the suspects said they did not even set their foot in central Harare on the day in question while some complained that they were caught up in a police dragnet.
Mkwananzi argued that he is not the leader of Tajamuka activists as suspected.
"The accused will state that he was attending a workshop at Sapes Trust on August 24 2016 from 8am to 13:00hrs and did not go anywhere. After the workshop, he remained behind in some meetings and walked to his place of residence around 15: 30pm," his lawyer, Tonderai Bhatasara, argued.
He added, "He (Mkwananzi) was arrested because the police assume he is the leader of Tajamuka and that he is a victim of police profiling in which they are profiling activists."
Chakeredza told the court that he was attending meetings in his constituency on the day and time in question.
Another vendor, Bruce Usvisvo, argued that he did not participate in the demonstrations but got arrested after he went to buy food at Choppies Supermarket. He said it is then that violence erupted with throwing stones at the supermarket.
Kauzani Ncube, who is the chairperson of unemployed youths, said he never went to town the day the motor vehicle was burnt down.
He told court that he was later summoned by the police and was charged with disorderly conduct.
"The accused will state that he refused to pay a fine which irked the police...about an hour later his charges were changed to public violence,” his lawyer said.
Mandimika said he was arrested after the police searched his bag and found a camera.
“I was passing by Corner Nelson Mandela and Rezende Street when I saw the police arresting passengers in kombis,” he said.
Ncube said when the police called him he complied as he had nothing to fear. They asked what was in his bag and upon realising he had a camera they accused him of taking photos of them. He was then arrested and then taken to other people, around 80, all of whom had been arrested.
The suspects were remanded to next month for trial continuation.
Lazini Ncube is presiding over the case.