Nine student activists today have been released from remand prison when they appeared before a Harare magistrate on charges of treason together with 34 members of the International Socialist Organization (ISO).
The forty five where arrested on 19 February in Harare while attended a discussion organized by the International Socialist Orgarnisation (ISO).The discussion was meant to reflect on the political situation in the Middle East with specific reference the Tunisian and Egyptian uprisings. Nine students Prolific Mataruse, Trevor Chamba, Willie Hlatswayo, Ian Muteto, Pride Mukono, Tinashe Chisaira, Peter Garanewako, Malvern Hobwana and Tashinga Mudzengi were released today after the Presiding magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi indicated that there was no reasonable suspicion that by attending the discussion, the nine student activist and twenty nine others did not intended to overthrow the government and should be charged with treason. The Zimbabwe National Students Union Deputy Secretary General Welcome Zimuto, Former ZINASU President Hopewell Gumbo,Leader of ISO Munyaradzi Gwisai, Tafadzwa Choto, Michael Sozinyu, Tatenda Mombeyarara and Edson Chakuma were remanded in custody and will face the Treason charges.
The defense lawyer in the case Aleck Muchadahama today indicated to the court that the suspects are being abused through torture, forced labor and refusal of access to a state doctor even though the state had committed to provide one in the last hearing. The seven have been remanded in custody to the 21st of March.