Police ask for more time in Zimbabwe coup plot trial

Police ask for more time in Zimbabwe coup plot trial

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By Staff Reporter

ZIMBABWEAN police on Wednesday said they needed two more weeks to conclude their investigations into an alleged coup plot before prosecutors can fix a trial date for the seven men accused of plotting to topple President Robert Mugabe.

The men were in court on Wednesday and the investigating officer told the presiding judge that they would be ready to come up with a trial date in 14 days, defence lawyer Charles Warara said.

“They keep on shifting goalposts. The IO (Investigating Officer) said he wants two more weeks for investigating before coming with a trial date,” Warara protested.

Initially, the police had said they would have come up with a trial date this October.

The alleged ‘coup plotters’ who were arrested in late May, face treason charges arising from police claims that they planned to overthrow President Mugabe.

Albert Matapo, named as the leader of the plotters, is said to have sought to be the next government’s Prime Minister, while the Minister of Rural Housing and Social Amenities Minister Emmerson Mnangagwa was going to be “invited” to become president.

The seven deny the coup allegations and allege that they were arrested by state agents at a building in Harare’s Central Business District (CBD) while planning to form a political party.

In June, the High Court barred members of the public from attending the hearing after an application that was made by prosecutors.

In the application, prosecutor Lawrence Phiri said coverage of the matter must be “totally restricted” as there would be certain names that would be mentioned that needed protection.

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