Zimbabwe withdraws terror charges against MDC activists

Zimbabwe withdraws terror charges against MDC activists

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ZIMBABWEAN prosecutors have withdrawn "terror" charges against 22 opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) activists because of insufficient evidence, defence lawyers said on Tuesday.

The activists, including a member of parliament, were arrested in March as President Robert Mugabe's government launched a crackdown on the opposition, which saw MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai severely beaten in police custody.

State prosecutors had charged the men with undergoing "terrorism" training in South Africa and attempted murder. Prosecutors also said they were responsible for a spate of petrol bombings mainly targeting police stations this year.

Defence lawyer Alec Muchadehama said on Tuesday the charges had been dropped because of lack of evidence.

"They withdrew the charges before plea. ... They are conceding that they have no evidence to convict although the police are suggesting that they are tying (up) a few loose ends," Muchadehama told Reuters.

There was no immediate comment from prosecutors.

The men were rounded up after anti-riot police stopped an opposition prayer rally in Harare.

The crackdown drew widespread condemnation of Mugabe's strong-arm tactics in handling the opposition and prompted regional heads of state to task South Africa's President Thabo Mbeki to mediate between the government and the opposition.

Mugabe -- Zimbabwe's sole ruler since independence from Britain in 1980 -- denies his controversial policies have ruined a once promising economy and accuses the MDC of plotting with Western governments to unseat him. - Reuters
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