Source: Mbedzi remains in custody despite bail grant over expired passport hurdle —
National Democratic Working Group (NDWG) Matabeleland South provincial chairperson Bhekimpilo Mbedzi remains in custody despite him granted bail by the Masvingo High Court on Monday, after a condition requiring him to surrender his passport became a new obstacle to his release.
Mbedzi was granted US$200 bail by Masvingo High Court Judge Christopher Dube-Banda, overturning an earlier decision by the Beitbridge Magistrates’ Court to keep him in custody.
The ruling followed an urgent appeal by his lawyer, Patrick Tererai, who argued the activist had been denied his constitutional right to a speedy trial.
However, Mbedzi has not yet been released because his family has been unable to locate his passport, which is also understood to have expired.
One of his bail conditions requires him to surrender the travel document.
Tererai told CITE that efforts were underway to have the passport-related condition removed, but the process has been delayed because the High Court is currently on vacation.
“The bail conditions had a requirement that he surrender his passport. His wife could not locate the passport at home and the passport is also expired, so we are working on having that condition removed. Unfortunately the High Court is on vacation and there’s a holiday,” Tererai said.
Asked whether this meant Mbedzi would remain in prison longer despite him granted bail, Tererai said: “Unfortunately. But I think Thursday after the holiday the alteration will be done.”
The delay means Mbedzi is expected to remain in custody until the court vacation period ends, despite the High Court having already determined that he should be released on bail.
Mbedzi was arrested at his Beitbridge home on 15 July 2026 before he was charged with incitement to commit public violence.
His arrest followed comments in which he called on Zimbabweans to reject the recently enacted Constitution Amendment Act No. 3 (CAA3) that attracted criticism from many citizens, opposition activists, civil society organisations and some constitutional experts.
The NDWG had earlier indicated it was facilitating payment of the bail amount to allow Mbedzi to reunite with his family after the High Court ruling.
Political activist, Chilumbo Mudenda, criticised the continued detention of Mbedzi despite the bail order, describing the situation as a violation of his rights.
“We are actually dismayed and disgruntled by the way the Mnangagwa administration operates. Bhekimpilo Mbedzi was granted bail by the High Court in Masvingo on 3 August 2026 when he was appearing for the third time seeking bail at Beitbridge Magistrates’ Court. But up to today, he hasn’t been given the freedom he deserves,” he said.
Mudenda said the delay had revived painful memories among some people in Matabeleland of past cases involving political activists who remained detained despite legal developments in their favour.
“We still have the scars of Lookout Masuku, who was deemed and declared innocent of any treasonous charge by the High Court of Zimbabwe. The government denied him his freedom and they continued persecuting Lookout Masuku until he died,” said the political activist.
The political activist also criticised the passport condition, arguing that requiring Mbedzi to surrender an expired document was unreasonable.
“There is no point because they are citing a very useless statement saying, ‘you must surrender an expired passport to Masvingo High Court before they release him’,” Mudenda said.
Mudenda said Mbedzi was reportedly expected back in court on 18 August and called for respect for constitutional freedoms.
“This is a clear abuse of power. When somebody is granted bail, we expect that person to have his freedom, where freedom is not what we are witnessing. It’s absurd,” he said.
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