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http://solidaritywithzimbabwe.blogspot.com/2011/03/prisoners-now-released-on-bail-but.html
Friday, March 18, 2011
Prisoners now released on bail! March 21 demonstrations remain urgent
Thanks in part to donations from supporters abroad, friends and
family raised the $12,000 US needed to get the six prisoners
released on bail on March 17. They are now back with their loved
ones -- but will be in court on March 21, standing trial for treason.
The international day of action in solidarity with the Zimbabwean
activists remains as urgent as ever. Now the demand is even
simpler: Drop all charges now!
Updates on Twitter from Shantha Bloeman -- wife of Munyaradzi
Gwasai, one of the prisoners -- give supporters outside Zimbabwe a
glimpse of this week's developments from the inside. A few entries:
Another call. ZANU-PF youth raided room of one of the
released. [This refers to the 39 prisoners released earlier in the
month.-sm] Trashed room and took his things. He is now in hiding.
Police took detained for investigations. Want passports to
explore possible foreign connections. Not sure if this will help
or hinder bail.
Too late to get bail paid today. But hopefully will secure
funds early tomorrow so we can get them out. Just one more night
in detention.
Bought lots of lice shampoo. How will we ever get them out of
Munya's dreds? Will this mean a radical new hair cut and much arm
twisting?
Big thank you to all for solidarity & support. We have enough
for bail. So relieved. Hope they'll be out by end of the day.
Hopewell's wife just found out she is pregnant w second
child. Tears of joy from all.
Workmates joke they should call child Treason. We propose Egypt.
(On Hopewell Gumbo, see Dave Zirin's reminiscence quoted here.)
There is reason to think that earlier solidarity demonstrationts
may have helped the prisoners get out. There are cases of
Zimbabwean oppositionists in the MDC who have not released by the
Mugabe regime even after they paid bail.
This underscores the need for broad, vigorous protests on March
21, when the six go to trial. Now more than ever, solidarity is a
force for liberation.
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