Harare - A Zimbabwean court on Tuesday
freed activist pastor Evan Mawarire, a critic of President
Robert Mugabe, following his weekend arrest on new charges of
attempting to subvert the government.
It was the second time he has been detained for a similar
offence.
Mawarire went on trial on Monday on separate subversion
charges stemming from protests last year against Mugabe's
handling of the economy.
The magistrates court said the rights of Mawarire, who
appeared in khaki prison uniform, had been violated after police
failed to bring him to court within 48 hours following his
arrest on Sunday morning, as stipulated by the law.
Mawarire had earlier attended trial at the High Court but
the judge postponed the case to Thursday.
The 40-year-old pastor faces a sentence of up to 20 years in
prison if convicted, and even if acquitted could soon be on
trial again.
He is due to face yet another trial at a later date on
charges of promoting violence after he addressed protesting
university students in June.