Hopewell Chin’onon’s bail application will proceed in camera on Thursday after magistrate Ngoni Nduna upheld prosecution claims that his testimony could put the security of prison officers and other inmates in jeopardy.

Addressing journalists outside court, Mtetwa said: “The mind boggles, frankly. We don’t know what security will be breached by speaking about what is in the public domain…”

Mtetwa said journalists from state media were granted access to prisons this week and reported on the lack of PPEs and the spread of Covid-19.

Mtetwa said she wanted to lead evidence by Chin’ono, showing how prisoner rights are being violated daily at Harare Remand Prison and Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison, including lack of provision of masks, sanitisers and food which has exposed prisoners to Covid-19.

Mtetwa argued that matters of public interest should be heard in an open court however the magistrate said evidence he may give might compromise the security of officers and other inmates and also that of the prison, therefore members of the public in the gallery must be excused,”