A HARARE magistrate has dismissed an application for the release of laptops, cellphones and passports belonging to seven human rights defenders arrested in May on subversion allegations and remanded them out of custody to August 30.
The ruling came after the seven made a joint application Monday to have their personal equipment released arguing that they were not listed as evidence requested for the purpose of their trial.
George Makoni, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Gamuchirai Mukura, Nyasha Mpahlo, Farirayi Gumbonzvanda, Sithabile Dewa and Beauty Rita Nyampinga are all on bail after being charged with subversion.
Lawyer Jeremiah Bamu made the application seeking to compel the state to release their laptops, phones and passports which were confiscated by the state on the 20th of May 2019 upon the activists’ arrest at R.G Mugabe International Airport. Bamu’s contention was that the mentioned items are not part of the bail conditions as granted by the High Court.
He further argued that the state was moving at a snail pace in furnishing the court with evidence, being extracted from the electronic gadgets of the accused persons.
Bamu said for the past ten(10) weeks, the state has been in possession of the gadgets and passports, but nothing has been brought forward. He also made an application to have the seven removed from remand and for the State to proceed by way of summons
The magistrate dismissed both applications based on the gravity of the allegations faced by seven and that they were a flight risks.
Prosecution say the seven and others, still on the run, went to the Maldives where they allegedly received training on how to operate small arms, evade arrest during civil unrest and were taught on counter-intelligence and acts of terrorism during the workshop.