THE trial of three pro-democracy activists has been postponed after one of the key State witnesses failed to take the stand due to ill health.

The trio comprising Namatai Kwekweza, Robson Chere and Samuel Gwenzi was arrested ahead of the 44th Ordinary Sadc Summit of Heads of State and Government held in Harare last year.

The three appeared before Harare magistrate Rufaro Panavanhu, who remanded them to February 3 for trial commencement.

They are being accused of protesting outside the Harare Magistrates Court against the arrest and continued detention of dozens of opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) activists.

They are being represented by Jeremiah Bamu and Tinashe Chinopfukutwa.

The three spent weeks in detention after they were repeatedly denied bail, with the State arguing that they are likely to abscond, commit other crimes or cause public despondency.

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The High Court later granted the trio US$150 bail each.

The three claimed that they were held incommunicado and tortured by suspected State seciurity agents for several hours following their dramatic arrest at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport.

They were removed from a plane on the tarmac of the airport on their way to Victoria Falls and charged with disorderly conduct.