The six were arrested together with 40 other activists who have since been acquitted of holding a seminar on "what lessons can be learnt"

from the Egyptian and Tunisian uprisings that drove dictators out of office.

The State claimed they were plotting to stage a similar revolt in Zimbabwe..

The six, who were facing death penalty if found guilty of treason, had their charges altered on Monday when they appeared before magistrate Morgan Nemadire. Their new crime is that of conspiracy to commit public violence, inciting public violence and participating in gathering with intent to promote public violence.

Nemadire recused himself from the trial, which has been deferred to August 22. Magistrate William Bhila has been appointed to handle the case.

The state case as presented by prosector Edmore Nyazamba was that on 19 February 2011 at the Zimbabwe Labour Centre in central Harare, university lecturer Munyaradzi Gwisai, Antonator Choto, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Edson Chakuma, Hopewell Gumbo and Welcome Zimuto allegedly unlawfully agreed to act in concert to forcibly and to disturb peace.

In his Feb. 19 seminar, videos of the recent demonstrations in Egypt were shown. They deny the charge and say their meeting was meant to discuss pertinent issues on how Zimbabwe's working class could learn from the developments in North Africa.

By Staff reporter and agencies