High Court orders release of 15 MDC activists, 2 remain
By Lance Guma
24 July 2007.

The High Court on Tuesday ordered the release of 15 MDC activists who spent over 4 months in remand prison without trial. Two other activists, Morgan Komichi and Dennis Murira, are still to have their bail applications considered. Defence lawyer Alec Muchadehama confirmed the development saying he has already paid the Z$10 million bail for each of his clients. Highlighting the costly nature of the legal battles, the MDC forked out Z$150 million for its activists, despite clear evidence the charges were trumped up. In March this year police arrested 32 party officials at the MDC Harvest House headquarters. The state alleged they were engaged in banditry training and that some of them threw petrol bombs at public trains, police stations and supermarkets.
The state case has been falling apart gradually and 4 months without a trial date proved to many that harassment was the motivation of the state. Komichi in particular is said to be in bad health, but despite this authorities remain unmoved by pleas from the defence to have him released. Speaking for the MDC in the United Kingdom, Information Secretary Matthew Nyashanu lamented how costly the legal battle had proved to be for the party. Laws blocking funding for political parties from outside the country had also made their task even harder. Despite this he expressed satisfaction the MDC had come out of the whole episode with its reputation intact and Mugabe had made it obvious to everyone he was harassing the opposition.
A March prayer rally in Harare’s Highfields suburb was crushed by police and exploited by the state to launch a major crackdown by Mugabe’s security forces. According to hospital sources 600 activists were hospitalised.