HARARE
–
A
Harare
magistrate
has
acquitted
human
rights
activists
Robson
Chere,
Namatai
Kwekweza
and
Samuel
Gwenzi
of
disorderly
conduct,
ending
a
year-long
trial
that
drew
widespread
criticism
from
rights
groups.
The
three
were
tried
alongside
Vusumuzi
Moyo,
Phillies
Pikitayi,
Delphine
Gutsa,
Simbarashe
Blackson,
Emmanuel
Sitima
and
Last
Chinodya,
who
were
also
cleared
of
the
charges.
Chere,
Kwekweza
and
Gwenzi
had
been
dramatically
removed
from
a
plane
at
Robert
Gabriel
Mugabe
International
Airport
last
year
by
12
unidentified
men
as
they
prepared
to
fly
to
Victoria
Falls.
The
activists
said
they
were
interrogated
and
tortured
for
hours,
with
Chere
sustaining
life-threatening
injuries
after
being
severely
beaten.
Prosecutors
alleged
the
group
had
participated
in
an
illegal
protest
outside
the
Harare
Magistrates
Court
on
June
27,
2024,
held
in
solidarity
with
more
than
70
Citizens
Coalition
for
Change
(CCC)
activists
who
were
appearing
in
court
that
day.
The
magistrate
ruled
the
state
had
failed
to
prove
its
case,
resulting
in
the
acquittal
of
all
nine
accused.