Dzamara freed

HARARE Magistrate Nomsa Sabarauta on Wednesday set free five pro-democracy campaigners who were arrested last year and charged with committing robbery and theft after they allegedly robbed some women at Africa Unity Square.

Magistrate Sabarauta removed the five pro-democracy campaigners namely Patson Dzamara, Oliver Chikumba, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Pride Mkono and Makomborero Haruzivishe from remand after granting an application for refusal of further remand filed by the human rights activists’ lawyer Obey Shava of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).

In his application, Shava had argued that State witnesses had never attended a single court case and hence were fitictious.

Magistrate Sabarauta advised prosecutors to proceed by way of summons if they intend to pursue the matter.

Dzamara, Mkono, Haruzivishe, Chikumba and Mombeyarara were arrested in June 2016 and charged with committing robbery and theft after they allegedly robbed some women as they staged a protest in Africa Unity Square.