They were facing charges of malicious damage to property and assault. The charges emanated from a protest the students waged over the allocation of residence to Cuban doctors over students at Masvingo Polytechnic in July last year.
The five activists were acquitted because the magistrate determined that the state had failed to bring a prima- facie case against the accused.
The Students Solidarity Trust continues to condemn harassment of students through use of the courts. The Trust urges the relevant judicial and education authorities to clamp down on such abuse of the court system by college authorities.