The editor of The Zimbabwe Standard, Davison Maruziva, has been freed
on Z$10 billion bail (R500) bail after his arrest on charges of
publishing an article regarded as in contempt of court and prejudicial
to the state, writes our correspondent.
Maruziva appeared before regional magistrate Doris Shomwe and was remanded until May 23.
Maruziva, who is facing two charges under the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, has been ordered to report to the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Law and Order offices every Monday until his case has been finalised.
The state charges that Maruziva "undermined" public confidence in the security forces by carrying a "false" article in his paper which was authored by opposition leader Arthur Mutambara.
The article was also in contempt of court, it is alleged.
In the article, Mutambara delivered a withering attack on Robert Mugabe and accused the octogenarian leader of running down the once prosperous nation in his 28 years of governance.
Maruziva was the 12th journalist to be arrested since the disputed elections of March 29, in which the Movement for Democratic Change took control of parliament from the Zanu-PF.
Mugabe also lost the presidential vote to Morgan Tsvangirai of the MDC, but a runoff is still due to be held.
Meanwhile, photographer Howard Burditt of Reuters news agency, has also been released after spending three days in custody. He has been accused of illegally using a satellite phone to send pictures.
"I am extremely relieved that Howard has been released but disturbed that he should have been held in jail for so long on such a charge," said David Schlesinger, the Reuters editor-in-chief.
