"Charges dropped against Mugabe foe"

Charges dropped against Mugabe foe
By Fanuel Jongwe
AGENCE FRANCE-PRESSE
Published August 3, 2005

HARARE, Zimbabwe -- Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai
was cleared yesterday of treason charges that carried a possible death
sentence.
Mr. Tsvangirai, 53, was arrested in June 2003 and spent two weeks
in jail after protests called by his Movement for Democratic Change
(MDC) party that the government said were aimed at overthrowing
President Robert Mugabe.
Prosecutor Florence Ziyambi told the Harare magistrate's court that
the state was "withdrawing the charges before plea," but gave no
explanation.
Mr. Tsvangirai showed no emotion when the magistrate read the
prosecution's decision.
But speaking to reporters at his home later in the day, a jubilant
Mr. Tsvangirai said the case was a feeble attempt by the Mugabe
government to deflect attention from the slew of political and economic
crises bedeviling the southern African nation.
"This one had no basis at all," he said. "Let me say, this was a
worthless attempt to divert attention from the issues confronting our
nation."
The former trade union leader who formed the MDC in late 1999 was
also acquitted of treason in October, after an almost six-month trial
on separate charges of plotting to kill Mr. Mugabe, in power since the
country achieved independence in 1980.
The Zimbabwean government sought leave to appeal in December, but
withdrew that appeal in February, shortly before parliamentary
elections in March.
At his initial hearing two years ago, Mr. Tsvangirai was brought
before the High Court in leg irons and wore khaki prison garb for his
bail hearing.
He has been appearing in court regularly for remand, but his
attorneys had complained at the last hearing that the state was taking
too long to go to trial.
Over the past month, Mr. Tsvangirai has visited communities
affected by a much-criticized demolitions campaign that has left
700,000 people homeless and condemned it as an act of retribution
against his supporters.
Mr. Tsvangirai is also preparing for a challenge in the Supreme
Court against Mr. Mugabe's victory in 2002 elections, although no date
has been set for the case.
His party is also challenging in court the outcome of the March
parliamentary vote that gave the MDC 41 seats, compared with 78 for Mr.
Mugabe's party, the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front.

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