In a significant legal victory for the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC), interim leader Jameson Timba and 77 party activists have been acquitted of disorderly conduct charges. The group was arrested on June 16 for allegedly participating in an unlawful gathering and engaging in disorderly conduct.

Magistrate Collet Ncube delivered the verdict, stating that the State failed to prove that the accused were in a public space. The court ruled that Timba’s residence, where the gathering took place, is a private space and not a public area.

While the magistrate acquitted 11 of the activists, including Timba, due to insufficient evidence, the remaining 66 will proceed to the defense case on the count of participating in an unlawful gathering.

The acquittal is seen as a significant win for the opposition party, which has faced numerous challenges and arrests in recent months. The CCC has hailed the verdict as a victory for democracy and the rule of law.

The case has sparked debate about the right to assembly and the limits of police power in Zimbabwe. Human rights groups have criticized the government for using the law to silence opposition voices and stifle dissent.

With this acquittal, attention now turns to the upcoming trials of the remaining activists and the ongoing struggle for political freedom in Zimbabwe.