Imagine if we banned all mention of the phrase “what lessons can we learn” in Zimbabwe? Essentially our dictatorship wants to turn us into unquestioning dumbos. It’s up to us to resist them.

Zimbabwe ‘Egypt uprising’ activists in treason trial

The trial of six Zimbabwean activists charged with treason for attending a lecture in February about the Egyptian uprising is due to open in Harare.

The seminar by a university lecturer asked “what lessons can be learnt” – which the prosecution says means they were planning a similar revolt.

Charges were dropped against 40 other activists arrested at the same time.

The six accused face the death penalty if found guilty of treason. They all deny the charges.

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Munyaradzi Gwisai of the International Socialist Organisation (Zimbabwe) and the five others who have been charged with treason finally went home yesterday afternoon, 17 March. They had been in police custody since 19 February, and were granted bail on 16 March.

Read more in this statement from Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights

On the evening of Thursday 17 March 2011, Munyaradzi Gwisai, Antoneta Choto, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Eddson Chakuma, Hopewell Gumbo and Welcome Zimuto, were eventually released from remand prison following their successful bail application the previous afternoon.

The first to be released was Choto, from Chikurubi Maximum Women’s Prison. After a lengthy delay, her 5 fellow detainees walked out of Harare Remand Prison accompanied by prison guards and their lawyer, Alec Muchadehama. Families, friends, lawyers and media practitioners were gathered outside the gate to witness their release just short of one month after they were initially detained.

Munyaradzi Gwisai of the International Socialist Organisation (Zimbabwe) and the 5 other treason charge detainees were granted bail yesterday. The High Court judge presiding commented that the state’s case was ‘weak,’ and set bail at $2,000 each with stringent reporting conditions. They are to face trial for treason.

However, the six remain in police custody as their supporters are struggling to raise the $12,000 required to secure their release.

They are urgently appealing for funds to pay bail and allow these detainees to go home. Last night was their 26th night in police custody. Their families are suffering in the absence of their loved ones.

Contact solidarity [at] freethemnow [dot] com if you are able to contribute to the bail fundraising appeal.

The bail hearing which was expected today in the case of Munyaradzi Gwisai from the International Socialist Organisation (Zimbabwe) and the five others who have been charged with treason has been postponed to Wednesday 16 March.

This means the six will spend yet another weekend in police custody. It is Gwisai’s 42nd birthday on Saturday, but he won’t be spending it with his family. Wednesday will mark 25 nights in custody for these detainees.

According to this update from the International Socialist Organisation (Zimbabwe), the bail hearing for Munyaradzi Gwisai and the six remaining detainees who have been charged with treason will be tomorrow at 9am:

With most of the arrested comrades having been released after the state failed to prove a prima facie (clear) case against them, the battle is still on to secure the release of the six comrades who are still in detention. We are still visiting them at the prisons. Welcome Zimuto is at Harare Remand Prison, Munyaradzi Gwisai, Hopewell Gumbo, Tatenda Mombeyarara and Eddison Chakuma are at Harare Central Prison whereas Antonater Choto is at Chikurubi Female Remand Prison. Those four at Central Prison are still in solitary confinement whereas Antonater Choto is not feeling well at Chikurubi. The officers advised that it is not possible for her to see a doctor out of the prison but that the doctor should visit the prison and examine her from there. The lawyers however have filed a bail application today at the High Court and we have been reliably informed that the hearing is set for Friday 11/03/11 at 09:00hrs.

Yesterday we shared with our subscribers the news about 39 of the 45 treason charge detainees being released. However, as we noted, Munyaradzi Gwisai of the International Socialist Organisation (Zimbabwe) and 5 others remain in custody.

Here are some of the responses we received:

• This is wonderful news!
• Great news! We wait for the 6. Keep up the spirit, keep up the fight!
• Thanks be to God. We pray for the remaining 6 to be granted freedom.
• Let’s keep on praying for the remaining ones.
• God is great.
• Time is on our side, we must be patient.
• We will win.
• The Almighty God’s power will deliver them.
• Acts 12 v 5-11 – I mean the same God who did it then will surely even today. Heb 13 v 8.
• Surely one day all of us will be free from bondage.
• The Almighty is a loving and caring Father who is going to lead us out of bondage like he did the Israelites out of Egypt!
• Thank you. Peace to the remaining 6.
• We pray for peace and a good government. Can the Almighty God bless all and release poverty and hunger for many of us to remember his Greatness. Amen.
• God is for us.
• Thank God.
• This is ridiculous. It’s meant to frustrate any meaningful activism here. Kuvhunduka chati kwacha.
• God delivered the Israelites out of Egypt. He is doing it for the second time. The third time will be for all who are living in bondage myself included.
• They’ll detain even millions. Know your environment and characters. Action!
• Not fair they must all be relased. God is watching.
• No to treason. If that is the case we are not yet independent. No freedom. So we will go for it. What I know is God is watching. We are praying for their release.
• Certainly they’ll win their case because a remote control isn’t a weapon to threaten the security of the nation let alone the government. It’s a mockery of our justice system. Viva Munya.
• That’s very bad. How is the police force operating just detaining people for the sake of pleasing Zanu PF. Bad recipe.
• Gwisai demonstrated, so has Mugabe. Free him.
• We are with you guys. They cannot kill your spirit. Gwisai, the revolutionary fire in you can never be quenched by any force, whehter natural or supernatural. All African dictators must go this year!
• Shame to the spin doctor, he represents everything bad & evil in this country. To the 45 hang in there we’re with you in our prayers.
• Thank God let’s hope the remaining 6 will be released too.
• That’s better now. We hope and pray that the remaining will be released soon. Let justice prevail.
• Thanks the Almighty and your update.
• Fear of the people is driving them crazy and most dangerous. The masses keep quiet at their own peril. Todaay it’s Gwisai tomorrow it’s you & me!