The five human rights activists who were arrested on arrival at the Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport while returning from a trip from the Maldives have been released on bail.
The five are George Makoni (38), Tatenda Mombeyarara (37), Gamuchirai Mukura (31), Nyasha Mpahlo (35) and Farirai Gumbonzvanda aged 26.
They were released by High Court Judge Justice Tawanda Chitapi who ruled that the State had no compelling reason to oppose bail by the applicants. He said:
It is not clear on what the workshop covered as a program cannot be used to determine the contents of the workshop.
There was no meaningful dispute to the challenges put forward by applicants.
The five, who are all facing treason charges, are being represented by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights led by Jeremiah Bamu.
Meanwhile, two other activists arrested days after the first five will learn if they get bail on Monday, June 10, after Justice Tsanga withheld judgment on Friday. Stabile Dewa and Beauty Rita Nyamupinga face treason charges.