Tsvangirai in court on fresh treason charge

Tsvangirai in court on fresh treason charge

• Zimbabwe to appeal Tsvangirai acquittal

• Victory for Tsvangirai, but Mugabe still in charge

• 3 journalists arrested as Tsvangirai acquitted

• Tsvangirai acquitted of treason charges

• Tsvangirai counting hours until D-Day

• Yet another treason charge for Tsvangirai

• Tsvangirai sues Ben Menashe in Canada

• Tsvangirai's treason trial lawyer wins IBA award

• Treason judgement won't bar Tsvangirai from polls

• Tsvangirai treason judgement imminent

• MDC accuses police of harassment as Tsvangirai raided

• Tsvangirai treason trial judgement postponed

• Tvangirai trial closes in Harare

• Bizos: Menashe a liar

• Ncube testifies at Tsvangirai trial

• Tsvangirai grilled on Menashe deal

• Herald lies over treason trial

• Mugabe was my hero - Tsvangirai

• Tsvangirai takes witness stand

ZIMBABWE'S main opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai, recently cleared of plotting to kill President Robert Mugabe, appeared before a magistrate's court on Wednesday for a routine remand hearing on separate treason charges.

The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader, who has been regularly appearing in court for remand since June last year, was ordered to return to court on January 13.

The second set of charges against Tsvangirai arose from mass anti-government protests dubbed the "final push", which he organised last year after which he was accused of urging Zimbabweans to oust Mugabe, in power since independence in 1980.

The state accuses Tsvangirai of inciting his supporters to overthrow the government and engage in acts of public violence.

He denied that the strikes and marches were aimed at removing the 80-year-old head of state, arguing they were spontaneous demonstrations of public anger at the economic and social hardships faced by the common man.

The southern African country last year went through its worst social and economic woes with acute shortages of food, fuel and bank notes, while inflation shot over the 600 percent mark.

A fortnight ago, the High Court acquitted Tsvangirai of charges of plotting to assassinate Mugabe ahead of the 2002 presidential elections.

But the government, unhappy with the acquittal, is preparing to appeal against the ruling.
Sapa
JOIN THE DEBATE ON THIS ARTICLE ON THE NEWZIMBABWE.COM FORUMS
newsdesk@newzimbabwe.com