By Shongedzai Mugwagwa

A Harare Magistrate, Rumbidzai Mugwagwa has remanded in custody Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CIZC) Board Chairperson and Heal Zimbabwe Trust (HZT) chairperson Rashid Mahiya who was on the police wanted list in connection with the violent January protests.

Mahiya handed himself to police on Monday 12 March 2019, the Harare Post can exclusively report.

Mahiya, who is represented by Tonderai Bhatasara of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, was charged with subverting a constitutional government as defined in section 22(2)(a)(i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

The State alleges that Mahiya connived with some unidentified accomplices who are reportedly on the run and convened a meeting at Wild Geese Conference Centre in Pomona suburb in Harare between 3-6 December last year.

The State alleges that he incited ‘members of non-governmental organisations and the general populace to subvert a constitutional government through acts of civil disobedience, passive resistance to the law, public violence, hooliganism and rampant looting across the country.

Prosecutors claimed that as a result of Mahiya’s undisclosed utterances during the meeting held at Wild Geese Conference Centre and also those of his unidentified accomplices, members of the public engaged in acts of violence, wanton destruction of both government and private property and carried out rampant looting from shops across the country.

On January 14, Zimbabweans began protests against government’s 150% fuel price hike. The violent protests prompted soldiers to intervene resulting in the loss of six lives.

Sources from the Harvest House told the Harare Post that Mahiya was pivotal in the planning and execution of the Dilemma Action strategy which was a baby of the Americans and Serbian mercenary who was identified.

Mahiya has been on the run hiding in suspected safe houses in Harare belonging to the Americans.