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Alert

Police launch manhunt for recently released journalist

(MISA/IFEX) - On 24 April 2009, Zimbabwe's police launched a search for freelance journalist Anderson Shadreck Manyere who was recently released on bail from Chikurubi Maximum Prison together with co-accused Movement for Democratic Change activists Gandhi Mudzingwa and Kisimusi Dhlamini.

The trio were granted bail by High Court Judge Charles Hungwe on 9 April and were released on 17 April as their lawyers were unaware of the fact that State Prosecutor Chris Mutangadura had on 14 April noted an appeal against the bail grant before Justice Bhunu. The appeal immediately invoked Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act (CPEA) which sets out the procedure for an appeal against bail.

The application was granted the same day that Manyere was released from Chikurubi Maximum Prison and automatically suspended the decision by Justice Hungwe to liberate the accused persons.

With the granting of the application, on 20 April the police immediately re-arrested Mudzingwa and Dhlamini, who were admitted to the Avenues Clinic hospital, and are presently searching for Manyere whose whereabouts are still unknown. In interviews with the media after his release, Manyere said he was severely tortured, denied food and medication while in police custody.