SW Radio Africa news - The Independent Voice of Zimbabwe
Arrested student Tanyaradzwa Musemburi
By Tichaona Sibanda SW Radio Africa 3 July 2014
The editor of the Sunday Mail, Edmund Kudzayi, who was arrested two weeks ago on allegations of being the Facebook character Baba Jukwa, has been released on stringent bail conditions.
The 28 year old has been charged with insurgency, terrorism, banditry, sabotage, attempting to subvert a constitutionally elected government and failing to secure firearms. All the charges, apart from that of the firearms, arise from written submissions made on the Baba Jukwa Facebook page.
Kudzayi, who admits creating the Amai Jukwa facebook character, strenuously denies any links to Baba Jukwa. In fact he has stated that he was helping the authorities to find out who Baba Jukwa really is and was key in helping with investigations. A number of commentators have said this crackdown is part of the infighting in ZANU PF with various factions fighting it out in the state media.
High court Judge Joseph Musakwa on Thursday granted him bail, set at US$5,200, but put strict conditions for his release. He has been ordered to surrender his passport and title deeds to his Hillside house, told not to travel outside a 40km radius from his Harare home. He will also report twice a week to the police Law and Order section, surrender details of his Gmail account and is ordered not to interfere with witnesses.
Our correspondent Simon Muchemwa said only when he has paid the bail money, surrendered his passport, title deeds and the password of his Gmail account to Assistant Commissioner Krispen Makedenge, will he be released from remand prison.
On Wednesday a 20-year old University of Zimbabwe student, Romeo Musemburi, was remanded in custody for allegedly posting an email message to the Baba Jukwa page ‘soliciting’ for arms of war to fight for democracy in the country. He has also been charged with attempting to commit an act of insurgency, banditry, sabotage or terrorism. Phillip Kudzayi, Edmund’s elder brother, also remains in custody in connection with the Baba Jukwa saga.