Media groups say he was wrongly accused and should not face trial.

Mr Moyo, a freelance reporter for the New York Times, is accused of violating immigration laws.

The authorities say he procured false accreditation cards for his colleagues Christina Goldbaum and Joao Silva.

The two were allegedly given visas on the strength of bogus papers provided by an official from state’s media commission.

They were deported shortly after, the authorities say, on discovery that their accreditation was fake.

If convicted, Mr Moyo could face up to 10 years in jail.

His arrest has been widely criticised and media groups say it is evidence of the authorities’ paranoia about international media coverage.

Zimbabwe ranks very low on the media freedom index and journalists are still often attacked and arrested, according to Reporters Without Borders.