The Gwanda magistrates’ court has set free 61 villagers, who were facing prosecution on charges of illegally occupying state land.
The villagers, who reside in Nyandeni, were scheduled to stand trial following their arrest on February 7 this year.
In court, prosecutors alleged that the villagers unlawfully held, used or occupied land at Hollins Block Estate in Gwanda, which is gazetted land without lawful authority.
Last week Gwanda magistrate Talent Phiri removed them from further remand.
This was after their lawyer Jabulani Mhlanga of Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights challenged their further placement on remand.
Mhlanga argued that the alleged facts presented in court by prosecutors did not disclose an offence or link the rural dwellers to the alleged commission of a crime.
Phiri agreed with Mhlanga and ordered the state to proceed by way of summons.
The Gwanda villagers are part of several people who were evicted from their communal lands.
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