Zimbabwe Opposition Figure Facing Treason Remanded to August

The trial of a top Zimbabwe opposition figure facing treason charges was on Monday postponed to 27 August as pressure mounted on President Robert Mugabe to release political prisoners as a pre-condition for talks to end the country’s long-running crisis.

The opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party’s secretary general, Tendai Biti, was ordered to return to court in seven weeks when he briefly appeared before a magistrate in the capital of Harare on Monday.

Biti was arrested in early June upon arrival at Harare International Airport from South Africa where he had fled to in April, fearing for his life.

The treason charge stems from a document he allegedly wrote which outlined a plot by the MDC to topple Mugabe’s government.

The MDC denies the existence of the report.

Biti is also accused of publishing information likely to cause public disorder after he announced results of presidential elections held in March – a task mainly reserved for the official Zimbabwe Electoral Commission.

The MDC has refused to participate in South African-brokered mediation talks with Mugabe unless scores of its supporters arrested on political violence and other charges are released.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai boycotted last Saturday’s meeting with Mugabe arranged by President Thabo Mbeki of South Africa.

Source African Press Agency

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