‘Baba Jukwa’ student set free

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ONE of the country’s youngest people to be charged for attempting to overthrow President Robert Mugabe’s government, Romeo Tanyaradzwa Musemburi, was yesterday released on $100 bail by the High Court.

ONE of the country’s youngest people to be charged for attempting to overthrow President Robert Mugabe’s government, Romeo Tanyaradzwa Musemburi, was yesterday released on $100 bail by the High Court.

CHARLES LAITON SENIOR COURT REPORTER

High Court judge Justice Joseph Musakwa, granted bail in terms of the draft order after Chief Law Officer Tawanda Zvekare conceded to the teenager’s release.

Musemburi (20), a third year University of Zimbabwe (UZ) student, was arrested two weeks ago and charged with attempting to commit an act of insurgency, banditry and sabotage or terrorism.

He is being charged alongside alleged accomplices Sunday Mail editor Edmund Kudzayi and his brother Phillip, who were released on $5 000 bail each coupled with stringent conditions, on the same charges of waging “cyber terrorism”.

In a statement attached to his bail application, through his lawyer advocate Tonderai Bhatasara, Musemburi denied the charges saying he had no links to the faceless Baba Jukwa.

He also denied attempting to subvert Mugabe’s constitutional government.

As part of his bail conditions, Musemburi was ordered to reside at his residence in Shortstone, Waterfalls, and to report every Friday at Harare Central Police Station, CID Law and Order Section.

The UZ student, who is studying an honours degree in economics, is accused of authoring and sending a statement alleged to be prejudicial to the State through the [email protected] email.

Allegations against Musemburi are that on August 3 last year, he, through his e-mail account, wrote and posted an article saying: “We want pfuti (guns). Give us and we will hit the streets and fight for our democracy.”

The State alleges that the article had the effect of attempting to commit an act of insurgency, banditry and sabotage or terrorism with a view to overthrow Mugabe’s government by unconstitutional means.