Zimbabwean legislator Joana Mamombe, 25, has been charged with treason for allegedly inciting unrest before January 2019 protests against fuel price hikes, according to a report. The youngest member of parliament was denied bail after being arrested for allegedly plotting to overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government.
The charges relate to a press conference she attended on January 13, 2019, where she encouraged supporters to participate in a 'peaceful march' and 'dress in black.' This follows a period of violent protests triggered by a sharp increase in fuel prices, which led to at least 17 deaths and multiple human rights abuses, including sexual violence, during government crackdowns.
The Movement for Democratic Change Alliance (MDC A), Zimbabwe's main opposition party, condemned the arrest as illegal. A party statement criticized the court's decision to remand Mamombe for two weeks, arguing that her remarks did not constitute a criminal act. 'The words "invitation to a peaceful march" and "dress in black" do not amount to reasonable suspicion of a crime,' the statement said.
Mnangagwa, who assumed power in November 2017 after a military coup that ousted Robert Mugabe, has accused opposition figures and NGOs of attempting to destabilize his government. His administration deployed military forces to quell the 2019 protests, drawing accusations of excessive force from opposition groups.
