Introduction
In Zimbabwe, the operation of bail in criminal matters is
governed by the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act [Chapter 9:07]
in particular section 115 to section 135. Bail is a temporary
release of an accused person from police custody or prison granting
them liberty, upon payment of a sum of money or on specific
conditions ordered by a court. This can be referred to as
“Chibatiso” in Shona vernacular.
What many people may not know is that bail in Zimbabwe is
refundable, meaning that the accused person should receive a full
refund of the bail amount if they attend all their court
appearances and comply with the bail conditions such as reporting
to police station, surrendering travel documents or providing
surety in the form of title deeds of your immovable property or any
specific condition. This article will explain how bail is
refundable in Zimbabwe.
