Several political detainees, including civic leader and former broadcaster Jestina Mukoko, appeared in court on Thursday but their cases were referred to Friday for rulings. Lawyer Alex Muchadehama said they made an application that Mukoko's case be referred to the Supreme Court, on the basis that she should not continue on remand and that her rights had been violated. But the magistrate referred the matter to Friday for a ruling.

Muchadehama said Mukoko is a victim of kidnapping, has been tortured by state agents and was denied her right to access lawyers. Her relatives and lawyers are arguing that such a person cannot be the subject for remand proceedings and therefore the Supreme Court should rule on this matter.

Mukoko, who is the director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), is accused together with 8 others of facilitating the training of MDC activists as bandits.

Also on Thursday, other civic and political activists, including MDC director of Security Chris Dhlamini, had their High Court bail application referred to Friday because the State said it was not ready with its response. This group is facing allegations of bombing trains and police stations.

Meanwhile Muchadehama said that all the female detainees, including the former ZBC broadcaster, are being held in solitary confinement in the male section of the notorious Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison - an area of the prison reserved for only the hardest of criminals.

He said: "My understanding is it is being done purportedly for security reasons but we do not know what security threats the females constitute,"

It is still far from clear why Mukoko has been targeted, but there is definitely a concerted ZANU PF campaign against her. This week the newly appointed Attorney General Johannes Tomana branded the civic leader a 'threat to society' who should remain in jail.

Despite the Supreme Court ruling on Wednesday that the activist be taken to a private clinic, Muchadehama said the state agents are 'prevaricating' . Mukoko who was abducted from her Norton home in December is said to be very depressed.

The activists are all facing various charges linked to an alleged plot to remove the Mugabe regime from power. All say they were tortured into admitting the allegations. Another 11 activists are still missing after being abducted.