News / National
Mugabe frees 38 but Gwisai still in remand
07 Mar 2011 at 12:15hrs | Views
A Zimbabwe court has freed 38 political activists detained for weeks on
charges of plotting protests against veteran President Robert Mugabe
similar to those that toppled long-serving leaders in Egypt and Tunisia.
Police arrested 46 people in the capital Harare on February 19 as they watched videos of protests in the North Africa states and discussed possible demonstrations in Zimbabwe, where Mugabe, 87, has held power for 31 years.
Defense lawyer Alec Muchadehama said state prosecutors had agreed to free a majority of the accused activists, who faced treason charges and possible execution if convicted.
"Out of the 46 who were in custody, 38 have been released completely after the state agreed with us that they had no case to answer," he told reporters.
Muchadehama said the remaining eight -- including Munyaradzi Gwisai who heads a small but radical pressure group called the International Socialist Organization -- would be back in court for a remand hearing session on March 21.
They had all pleaded not guilty.
Defense lawyers say the accused were engaged in an academic debate on African politics when the police pounced on them. International human rights groups had appealed for their release.
Those arrested included trade unionists, student leaders and Gwisai, who is accused of convening the meeting.
Police arrested 46 people in the capital Harare on February 19 as they watched videos of protests in the North Africa states and discussed possible demonstrations in Zimbabwe, where Mugabe, 87, has held power for 31 years.
Defense lawyer Alec Muchadehama said state prosecutors had agreed to free a majority of the accused activists, who faced treason charges and possible execution if convicted.
"Out of the 46 who were in custody, 38 have been released completely after the state agreed with us that they had no case to answer," he told reporters.
Muchadehama said the remaining eight -- including Munyaradzi Gwisai who heads a small but radical pressure group called the International Socialist Organization -- would be back in court for a remand hearing session on March 21.
They had all pleaded not guilty.
Defense lawyers say the accused were engaged in an academic debate on African politics when the police pounced on them. International human rights groups had appealed for their release.
Those arrested included trade unionists, student leaders and Gwisai, who is accused of convening the meeting.
Source - Byo24News
