The six were arrested with 40 other activists who have since been acquitted because they held a seminar on "what lessons can be learnt" from the Egyptian and Tunisian uprisings that drove dictators out of office.
The State claimed they were plotting to stage a similar revolt in Zimbabwe. The six, who were facing death penalty if found guilty of treason, had their charges altered on Monday when they appeared before magistrate Morgan Nemadire. Their new crime is that of conspiracy to commit public violence, inciting public violence and gathering with intent to promote public violence.
Nemadire recused himself from the trial, which has been deferred to August 22. Magistrate William Bhila has been appointed to handle the case.