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MDC supporters and journalist are denied bail

                                              Staff Reporter [23/04/2008 09:02]

Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and freelance journalist Frank Chikowore arrested last week have been denied bail by a Harare magistrate court.

About 30 people were remanded to 5 May by magistrate Olivia Mariga who said that their detention would deter potential offenders.

She added that if granted bail the accused could further incite other people to commit a similar offence.

"After careful consideration of submissions by both the state and the defence, I came to the conclusion that the accused are not suitable candidates for bail," the judge said.

"The situation in the country is very volatile. As much as I appreciate the notion of the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, it's necessary that those who are brought to court on public violence charges be kept in custody as a warning to would-be offenders."

The group is facing public violence charges in connection with a mass stay away called by the MDC to force an immediate release of the presidential election results which are yet to be released three weeks after polling on March 29.

Prosecutors said they were behind a series of violent incidents during the strike including the torching of a bus which was carrying cross boarder traders coming from Botswana along the Harare-Bulawayo highway in one of the capital city's western suburbs.

Harrison Nkomo one of the lawyers representing the group said they are going to file an appeal against the ruling in the high court.