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This article participates on the following special index pages:
Treason charges against Munyaradzi Gwisai & others - Index of articles
Gwisai
and activists' trial postponed to Wednesday
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
August 22, 2011
The trial of
University
of Zimbabwe lecturer and International
Socialist Organisation (ISO) general-coordinator Munyaradzi
Gwisai and five other social, economic justice and human rights
activists, accused of plotting to topple President Robert Mugabe
using "Egyptian style" revolts, was on Monday 22 August
2011 postponed to Wednesday 24 August 2011.
The activists' trial was scheduled to commence on Monday 22
August 2011 at the Harare Regional Court. But it was postponed to
Wednesday 24 August 2011 because no Magistrate had been assigned
to preside over the trial and replace Regional Magistrate Morgan
Nemadire, who recused himself from presiding over the trial as he
is known of one of the activists.
The trial has now been tentatively set for Wednesday 24 August 2011
for possible commencement.
This is the second time that the trial has been deferred after the
initial postponement on Monday 18 July 2011.
The activists namely Gwisai, anti-debt campaigner Hopewell Gumbo,
Antonater Choto, the director of the Zimbabwe Labour Centre, student
leader Welcome Zimuto, Eddson Chakuma and Tatenda Mombeyarara who
were initially charged
with committing treason upon their arrest in February are now
facing a revised charge of contravening Section 36 of the Criminal
Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly conspiring to
commit public violence and three other alternative charges.
Gwisai, Gumbo, Choto, Zimuto, Chakuma and Mombeyarara face alternative
charges of contravening section 187 as read with section 36 of the
Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly inciting
public violence, contravening section 37 (1) (a) of the Criminal
Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly participating in
a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaches of
peace or bigotry and contravening section 37 (1) (c) of the Criminal
Law (Codification and Reform) Act for allegedly participating in
a gathering with intent to promote violence, breaches of peace or
bigotry.
Gwisai and the five social justice and human rights activists were
arrested on Saturday 19 February 2011 together with 39 other activists
during a constitutional and democracy lecture held in Harare. Harare
Magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi freed
39 of the activists.
Prosecutor Edmore Nyazamba alleges that the activists delivered
speeches during the lecture encouraging participants to mobilize
Zimbabweans to revolt against President Mugabe and his government.
Visit the ZLHR fact
sheet
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