Dozens of Zimbabwe opposition activists arrested a week ago over a strike to force the release of last month’s presidential elections were denied bail on Tuesday by a Harare court.

Magistrate Olivia Mariga remanded around 30 people, including freelance journalist Frank Chikowore, in custody to May 5, saying their detention would deter potential offenders.

“After careful consideration of sumbissions by both the state and the defence, I came to the conclusion that the accused are not suitable candidates for bail,” the judge said.

“The situation in the country is very volatile. As much as I appreciate the notion of the presumption of innocence until proven guilty, it’s necessary that those who are brought to court on public violence charges be kept in custody as a warning to would-be offenders.”

The group was brought before Harare magistrates’ court to face public violence charges in connection with a general strike last week called by the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) over the delay by the electoral body in releasing the March 29 presidential results.

Prosecutors say they were behind a series of violent incidents during the strike on Tuesday of last week, including the burning of commuter buses.

As the first group of defendants was being led into the holding cells four more opposition activists were brought to the court on similar charges.

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