High court deals Joana Mamombe a heavy blow

MDC activist Joanna Mamombe was recently dealt a heavy blow by the high court. Her lawyers had made an urgent chamber application to have her released from Chikurubi prison where she is currently lodged awaiting psychiatric evaluation.

Judge Esther Muremba ruled that the matter was not urgent and removed it from the roll. This means that Mamombe will have to languish in prison further until the evaluation is concluded. Mamombe was arrested with two other activists early this year after staging a demonstration. They were later abducted and found dumped. When they made a police report of abduction they were arrested instead for making a false report, it being alleged that the they had never been abducted.

Mamombe had claimed that she is having mental issues due to the trauma of arrest and persecution and the state had then applied for her to be evaluated at the psychiatric unit at Chikurubi. Most people who had been rallying behind the activist have expressed disappointment at the ruling by the high court with their hopes having been watered down.

Mamombe has been one of the few female activists to actually raise her voice on issues affecting society. Most people have encouraged her to remain strong.

Social media has been flooded with comments on the high court application and some people have come down guns blazing at the judiciary for allegedly failing to deliver world class justice. The urgent chamber application was however simply for her to be released from the mental asylum. Most people are eager to know how the actual case at the Magistrates court will pan out