Solidarity messages for Munyaradzi Gwisai of the International Socialist Organisation (Zimbabwe) and the 44 others who have been charged with treason continue to pour in. Here are a few more:

• Inotambika Boyz. Ibhora rembabvu ukatsikwa unogona kuputika chigunwe but still ibhora mberi.
• The detention of the 45 people is unwarranted and does not merely show that the regime is desperate but also clearly shows its repressive and autocratic nature. The people have freedom of expression and association and nobody, however great and powerful, should deprive them of their inalienable rights.
• Mugabe should understand he doesn’t own this country and people no longer like him and his band of thugs. He should free all political prisoners or he faces our unarmed wrath now.
• We are praying for you guys. God is up there. One day He will say enough is enough. We support you.
• This is total madness and a desperate move by Zanu PF. I condemn the treason charge.
• The earth belongs to the people not to the leaders, so does this country. The Lord will appoint a redeemer – Judges v 1-25
• It’s our right to know what goes around because it also comes around.
• We condemn the arrest and detention of activists as the suppression of human rights at its worst.
• That’s total abuse of human rights at the highest level.
• Release the detained. Zimbabwe is not a chieftainship we are a (democracy). The treason crap is Satanic.
• No way these people must be released. Rule of law must be used.
• I commend Mr Gwisai and the rest of the detainees for having the initiative to want to change our Zimbabwe situation. Keep the faith.
• It’s strange that people who claim to have liberated us still use repression against us. What are they afraid of? People power rules supreme.
• There is no freedom or democracy.
• Zim dictatorship is now panicking they can only delay but not stop a revolution.
• Enough is enough to dictatorship. Our God will help us get freedom even through the Egyptian style. It’s high time we should unite against dictatorship.
• I support you all.
• On the subject of “The 45″ my deep concern is that there is NOTHING comming from the Prime Minister OR the Minister of Home Affairs. Although the MDC has submitted a strong statement the question arises what about the Governments stance.Have they forgotten who put them where they are and for what?
• Kuvhunduka chatikwara hunge une katurike. Vanotyeyi vanosungira vanhu kuona vidio kana firimu raanoda?

The update from the International Socialist Organisation (Zimbabwe) below provides a heart-felt update on the case of Munyaradzi Gwisai and the 44 others who have been charged with treason:

Update – 2 March 2011

We do appreciate all your efforts in solidarity with our detained comrades. we have noticed a number of solidarity protests, messages, statements and financial and material assistance from you comrades. We greatly appreciate that. Here is an update of what’s going on in respect of the matter.

The matter went before the magistrate Munamato Mutevedzi yesterday (Day 11). As previously the state was represented by Nyazamba and Mthombeni and our very comrades were represented by Alec Muchadehama being assisted by Mandevere Marufu. The matter began by the state cross-examining Cde Munyaradzi Gwisai, followed by the evidence of Antonater Tafadzwa Choto and Mascilne Zvomuya who were also cross-examined by the state. It was an interesting moment comrades. Mr Muchadehama made a conclusion after the evidence of his witnesses and the prosecution was given a chance to respond. That’s when the problem began. The prosecutor said he wanted time to research on the authorities cited by defence lawyer and added that his response was voluminous but the magistrate indicated that the matter was to be concluded since he will be not available for the rest of the week.

We adjourned for an hour and finally the matter was postponed to Monday 07/03/11. You could witness sorrow on the faces of the families who came expecting the release of their relatives and friends. The accused are therefore still in custody. Defence counsel however insisted that those who need medical attention, particularly those who are HIV positive and those who were tortured by police must be medically examined by doctors of their own choice and that order was granted by the magistrate and that it should be done in line with prison regulations.

The magistrate therefore will grant his determination on Monday but please note that the accused are not yet on remand and that this not yet the trial. If they are placed on remand they will have to apply for bail at the High Court. These proceedings are merely preliminary. The magistrate’s court has no jurisdiction over treason cases. The magistrate is to give a ruling on whether there was reasonable suspicion or not at the time of the arrest. If there was reasonable suspicion then the accused will be placed on remand, if there was no reasonable suspicion then the accused will be released because the arrest will be ruled unlawful. The defence lawyers are refusing the accused being placed on remand since there was no reasonable suspicion and no crime was committed. That ruling will be on Monday.

We visited the male prison after the court session to give them food only to be told that we were late so we failed to serve them.

Some of our subscribers sent us their observations from the anti-sanctions campaign launched by Robert Mugabe in Harare today:

• I wish that sanctions not be lifted until pepetrators of violence are brought to book and dealt with accordingly together with their leaders.
• People being forced to board buses omnibuses diverted to showgrounds by so-called youths.
• Fear of victimisation made us to sign.
• Very quiet no noise.
• Today’s gathering is not an anti-sanction but a Zanu PF campaaign rally.
• Many shops have been closed in town as many people went to witness the 2 million.
• Mugabe is the only sanction we have. People must chant “Mugabe must go” at those forced gatherings.
• We are having difficulties getting into town from Zengeza 3. Kombis are being diverted to Bob’s meeting.
• Is it true? Someone told me shops and other businesses are not operating today, is a day of anti sanction campaigning. Please beware and inform others because it can turn to violence.
• EU & West add more names to the sanction list today whilst Mugabe is trying to hoodwink everyone with the so called 2 million march.
• Don’t go into town today coz kombis are being diverted to the show ground.
• Kubatana! Tiri kumandikidzwa kuratidzira zvemasanctions nehutungamiri hweZanu PF.
• Here in Glen Norah ahead of Zanu PF’s anti sanctions march they are going around telling all people to lock their doors despite you have infants and school going age children.

We have received more text messages expressing support for Munyaradzi Gwisai of the International Socialist Organisation (Zimbabwe) and the 44 others who have been charged with treason:

• Absurd it is and I condemn it in the strongest manner possible. Asi kuenda kwemukuru shingai varume we are with you in spirit.
• ‘Let my people go.’ Exodus 5 v. 2 History is on our side! Age is on our side! People are on our side! God is on our side! The people shall govern!
• Under these very difficult circumstances I wish you courage, faith, patience and humour.
• The world has eyes. Nothing is going to happen to the 45 detained on false treason charges.
• No rule of law, no democracy, no peace, no justice. It’s high time we should take to the streets and demonstrate against dictatorship.
• Let us pray for them. God is for the oppressed. One day he will free his oppressed people. Let’s have faith in him.
• I support them because they are driving towards human, civil, political, social and economic rights.
• We must be free to choose our favourite leaders.
• Vicious regimes are destined to fall. We’ve the strong conviction to free our nation. Let’s fight on guys.
• The Almighty God is watching. You will conquer. Keep the wheels of change rolling. We are with you.
• Those who arrested the 45 are the ones who are committing treason.
• Free the 45 now! – Batanai
• To those imprisoned we want you to know that we serve a God of infinite justice. Be encouraged. We will pray for you and hold you in our hearts. – Nan
• An injury to one is an injury to all. We are with them wherever they are. We will stand with them.
• This is not fair. This is inhuman. We are sick and tired with these perpetrators. We people should stand bold enough to conquer this evil doing.
• Free the 45 now!
• All I can say to Robert and his cowboys is: Please give peace a chance!
• We will continue with this abuse if we maintain this obedience and faithfulness of pet dogs.

Tonight will be the 12th night in custody for Munyaradzi Gwisai of the International Socialist Organisation (Zimbabwe) and the 44 others who have been charged with treason.

I’ve just watched the most gorgeous sunset. Free the 45 now. They deserve to get to watch the sunset too.

My first ever visit to the Harare Magistrates Court was disheartening. The uninterested police officer at the front/information desk barely looked up from texting to tell me to go in the wrong direction for court five. The building looked full of distressed relatives and distracted looking lawyers, and the scent of urine as I turned a corner reminded me of the broken window theory. The theory postulates that a house falling into disrepair has deep psychological effects on a community. With time the entire community becomes like that house – dysfunctional. I wondered where our broken window was and if it wasn’t too late to fix it.

I met a woman whose husband was one of the accused. We found ourselves sandwiched together in a crowd that was vainly attempting to overhear what was going on in the court room, which was a whole lot of nothing. Our magistrate decided not to show up that day. Seeing the state of the 45, I couldn’t help but get emotional. But she was stoic, and even managed to give me some words of comfort. It wasn’t my husband who was charged with treason but hers, yet here she was comforting a foolish, emotional woman who was there to show support for a co-worker.

On my second day I arrived in time to be sandwiched in the back of the court itself. While we waited for the magistrate, who was over an hour late, I overheard some interesting conversations, one of which was between two student activists.  ‘They’re trying to frustrate us into leaving’, the one said as people began to leave. ‘The magistrate is there waiting for people to leave’. Another pointed out that it was unreasonable to charge the 45 with attempting to overthrow the government, ‘after-all’ he said, ‘a revolution is not started with a laptop, a projector and an analysis of the legal system’. ‘It’s the repressed people’, the other whispered back, ‘who will start it’.

Interestingly, that was the same day the million man march was supposed to be held at Harare Gardens ‘from 11am until the fall of a dictatorship’. Later that evening a BBC journalist reporting from Johannesburg reported the attempt at revolution. 40 people showed up for the march. I believe the rest are located in places with better internet connections.

When the judge did finally arrive, he ordered the public gallery be cleared of anyone who was standing. Before he had even finished giving the order the entire gallery was seated on the floor, some knelt where they could. ‘They will not take this away from us!’ I heard the student activists mutter. Everyone in that room was determined to stay. I was awed (and tearful again) this was where the revolution was happening.