HARARE, Zimbabwe | Thirty-five local election agents, arrested on election day last August and accused of attempting to illegally announce poll results, have filed a court case against Police Commissioner General Godwin Matanga and the Home Affairs Minister.
They are seeking the return of their electronic devices seized during their arrest.
The group, comprising employees and volunteers from the Zimbabwe Election Support Network (ZESN) and Election Resource Centre (ERC), had charges dropped nearly a month ago due to lack of evidence.
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Their lawyers, from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, stated that the High Court should order the release of their mobile phones and laptops confiscated on August 23 by police officers during a raid.
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has claimed that ongoing investigations prevent the return of the devices, despite the withdrawal of criminal charges.
Prosecutor Lancelot Mutsokoti acknowledged the lack of incriminating evidence after nine months. Alec Muchadehama, representing the group, reiterated that no offense was committed and described the unlawful arrest and mistreatment of the election observers, including torture and poor detention conditions.
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