A HARARE magistrate yesterday dismissed an application for
temporary release of the passport for one of the seven human rights activists
who are facing charges of trying to subvert a constitutionally-elected
government after attending a training workshop in the Maldives.
Frank Mpahlo had filed an application for release of his
passport and two laptops, saying he intends to travel outside the country.
However, magistrate Learnmore Mapiye dismissed the application, saying the
passport and laptop were being held as exhibits.
Mpahlo is being charged together with Beauty Rita Nyampinga
(61) of Communications Services and Allied Union Workers of Zimbabwe, Sithabile
Dewa (34) (Women’s Academy for Leadership and Political Excellence), George
Makoni (Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe), Tatenda Mombeyarara
(International Socialists),
Gamuchirai Mukura (Community Tolerance Reconciliation and
Development), Nyasha Mpahlo (Green Governance Zimbabwe) and Farirai
Gumbonzvanda of Rosaria Memorial Trust.
Jeremiah Bhamu and Jessie Majome are representing the
accused. The application is one of several applications they made before the
court and all were dismissed with the court citing security reasons.
The matter appears to be a hot potato for the State and
Judiciary after the suspects appeared in court for almost one week with
magistrates refusing to handle it, saying it was a regional court’s matter.
Allegations are that the seven travelled to Maldives where
they went to a workshop organised by a Serbian non-governmental organisation,
Centre for Applied
Non-Violent Action and Strategies (Canvas), with the
intention to subvert a constitutionally-elected government.
It is alleged that during the workshop, they received
training on how to mobilise citizens to turn against the government and to
engage in acts of civil disobedience and or resistance to any law during the
anticipated national protest by anti-government movements.
The State further alleges that the five trained on how to
operate small arms, evade arrest during civil unrest and were taught on counter
intelligence and acts of terrorism.
It is alleged that on May 27, they were intercepted and
arrested upon arrival at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.
Their laptops and cellphones, which contain the subversive
materials were recovered from the accused and were sent to the Postal and
Telecommunications Regulatory Authority of Zimbabwe for extraction of evidence.
The court also heard that notes from the workshop conducted
by the accused were also recovered. Newsday
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