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Adelaide Moyo Chronicle Reporter
A pastor of a little-known Pentecostal church in Kariba who was arrested more than a week ago for staging a one-man demonstration against Zanu-PF is languishing in remand prison after failing to raise $500 bail. Patrick Mugadza, 45, of Makondo Drive, Breeze in Kariba was granted bail by Victoria Falls resident magistrate Lindiwe Maphosa on Tuesday last week but was still stuck at the Victoria Falls remand prison on Friday. It was unclear if he had raised the bail yesterday.

Trial in the case of criminal nuisance starts on January 5, 2016.

Mugadza who was represented by Thulani Nkala of Dube and Company when he applied for bail was seen on Friday still in remand with other inmates and prison officials said he was yet to pay for his temporary freedom.

Mugadza’s other bail conditions include residing at his given address, reporting at the nearest police station in Kariba on Mondays, not to interfere with witnesses and to surrender his travel documents.

The Remnant Church pastor has not pleaded. The defence lawyer had initially applied for refusal of remand saying there was no basis to prosecute his client because he was exercising his constitutional right.

The magistrate dismissed the application saying as much as it is a constitutional right to demonstrate, exercising it must not be seen to infringe on other people’s rights.

The court was told that the pastor travelled all the way from Kariba to Victoria Falls to stage the solo demonstration against the party on December 11, when the 15th Zanu-PF conference was officially opened.

Mugadza was immediately arrested near Bata Building in the resort town.

Prosecuting Listen Nare said the State was yet to record statements from witnesses.

Allegations against Mugadza are that on December 11 at 4PM opposite Bata Building in Victoria Falls, he walked along the street with a placard thereby disturbing the movement of people who were going to the Zanu-PF conference.

The placard had a message: “Mr President the people are suffering, Proverbs 21:13.”

The State alleges that Mugadza’s actions disturbed the free movement of members of the public.