Incarcerated anti-Robert Mugabe protesters say that they are being denied food by the Prison authorities.
The 11 who are detained at Harare Remand and Chikurubi female prisons respectively, told People’s Democratic Party President Tendai Biti, on Tuesday, they are starving.
The activists complained about the lack of food as the prison officials were denying visitors to bring them food from outside the prison complex.
The prison guards reportedly cited health reasons.
Food and other drinks are on sale in prison: a two litre plastic bottle of Coke, which is sold outside for $1, 20 is going for $4 while a one litre bottle of water, which is sold for $0.75 in supermarkets, going for $1, 50.
The astronomical prices, the activists said, were forcing most of the inmates to go hungry most of the times as prison food was inadequate and poorly prepared.
Among the activists Biti visited were; Linda Masarira, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Pride Mkono, Pamela Mawire and Makomborero Haruzivishe, Irene Takavada, Shadreck Dhliwayo and Brian Kansunzuma.
The activists who were arrested last week, are failing to raise the $1,000 bail amount they were granted by a Harare magistrate.
They are being accused of robbing two women in central Harare, when they were staging a 16 day protest against Robert Mugabe’s misrule.
They are however denying the charges.
During the prison visit, Biti urged the activists to remain focused and strong, “despite the attempts by Zanu PF to use state machinery to clamp down on opposition forces”.