The 83 members arrested after a peaceful protest to mark International Peace Day appeared in a routine remand hearing in Harare Magistrate’s Court this morning. They were further remanded out of custody to 29 December 2010.

Defence lawyer, Tawanda Zhuwarara had applied for a refusal of further remand which was denied by the magistrate. Despite the docket still not being ready, the state argued that it was too expensive for the state to proceed by way of summons because there were too many accused. The magistrate did warn the state however that if their case was not ready on 29 December, the 83 activists would be removed off remand.

The group has been charged under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 46, as read with Section 2(v) of the Third Schedule to the Criminal Code – ‘criminal nuisance’.

On International AIDS Day, WOZA calls on health authorities to provide adequate and affordable access to anti-retroviral medication for everyone who needs it. We also urge people to take responsibility for their own health.