Court denies Zimbabwe MPs bail despite public pressure

Two opposition MPs are to spend more time in detention after a magistrate denied them bail in a case which has attracted public attention and criticism.

Job Sikhala and Godfrey Sithole have been in pre-trial detention since June, when they were arrested and charged with inciting people to commit public violence.

It followed clashes between members of the ruling party and opposition at a funeral wake. They deny the charges.

The opposition Citizens Coalition for Change has accused the government of weaponising the law against its members. More than a dozen others face similar charges.

Repeated requests for bail have been rejected at both the magistrates' and high courts, prompting an outcry.

On Wednesday the magistrate rejected the latest bail application in which the defence had argued changed circumstances, including a public petition with more than 48,000 signatures to President Emmerson Mnangagwa calling for their release.

The defence also argued that the continued detention was more political than legal, echoing concerns expressed by groups such as Amnesty International that it was unjust.

The court ruled on Wednesday that public opinion was not fact and that it would not be swayed by it or be dragged into political issues.