UPDATE: AIDS workers being held in poor conditions in Zimbabwe

Five American medical workers, including two doctors, two nurses and one organizer were arrested Thursday on their way to distribute donated AIDS medication in Zimbabwe. The medical workers are being accused of suspicion of dispensing AIDS drugs without a licence. They are due to appear in court on Monday.

The Oakland California church that sent four of the Americans on the mission trip believes “there’s been some kind of miscommunication” and is hopeful they will be released Monday and allowed to return home.

The medical workers belong to the Allen Temple Baptist Church AIDS Ministry in Oakland , Calif. The church serves a predominantly African-American congregation. Several times a year since 2000, members have paid their own way to Zimbabwe to give antiretroviral medicine, vitamins, clothing and food baskets to poverty-stricken people with AIDS.

Jonathan Samkage, their attorney, said the four Americans were arrested late Friday along with two Zimbabwean doctors. The six are being held at Harare Central Police Station, which is reportey in very poor condition.

Samkange also stated he spent the day trying to get the workers released and expects a positive outcome when the they appear in court tomorrow.

The church’s work in Zimbabwe was started in 2000 by Robert C. Scott, an Allen Temple member, AIDS activist and doctor. Scott died last year.