On Friday, a group of people who work with AIDS patients and orphans in Zimbabwe were arrested for not having the required medical license. The group consists of two American doctors, two American nurses and an organizer.

Theophous Reagans, a Minister at Allen Temple Baptist Church in Oakland, California, said in a telephone statement on Sunday that since the year 2000, when the church initiated its projects in Zimbabwe, nobody has questioned the validity of their license. The Minister expressed his support for the arrested group, which would appear in court, on Monday.

Minister Reagans assured the public, in his statement to the Associated Press, that the church’s work was never against the authorities and that the members of the arrested groups have always complied with the authorities, in Zimbabwe.

However, Augustine Zimbili, the Spokesman of the police, reported to The Herald that it is their job to make sure all the medical institutions and all the projects that deal with medical issues must be registered and must have the license for practicing such activities.

He added, "There is a risk of dispensation of expired drugs. When premises are not licensed, it is difficult to check if the law is being complied with".