By Fanuel Jongwe
Harare - A Zimbabwean judge on Monday threw out a case against 10 staffers of an independent radio station charged with breaking the country's tough audiovisual laws after branding the dragging trial a "circus."
Magistrate William Bhila turned down a request by state prosecutors for a further adjournment against the employees of the Voice of the People (VOP) radio station until November 9, saying: "This is becoming a circus."
"This matter has already been postponed three times. There is no reason to keep the accused on remand. Remand is refused," he said.
Repressive media laws Beatrice Mtetwa, representing the accused, hailed the decision and said her clients were victims of a government clampdown on critics.
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"This is clearly a case where the state abuses the prosecution process for political reasons," Mtetwa said after the ruling.
"There was no basis in the first place to bring them to court and all these things they say the want to establish, the police should have established first even before the arrests" she said.
Seven directors and three other employees of the VOP radio station were arrested in December and January and detained at Harare's main police station, accused of possession and operation of transmission equipment without a licence.
Zimbabwe passed tough media laws in early 2002 which have been invoked to expel foreign correspondents and muzzle the country's once-vibrant independent press.
On Monday, the prosecution played for more time, saying it wanted to withdraw the charges against the 10 individuals and instead charge the radio station.
"It is the prosecution's considered view that proceedings have to be against the company, VOP Trust, and not the accused in their individual capacities," prosecutor Albert Masamha said.
But the lawyer for the accused strongly argued against the move on the ground that they had suffered enough.
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