FORMER Zimbabwean President Canaan Banana, jailed for a year on rape charges, is considering asking for a pardon, his lawyer said Tuesday. Banana began serving a one-year prison term on Friday. Banana, now 64, was found guilty in December 1998 of forcible sodomy, mostly committed while he was president from 1980 to 1987 and involving his aides and bodyguards. He had been out on bail pending the outcome of an appeal, which the Supreme Court turned down on Monday last week. He was sentenced to 10 years’ imprisonment, but with nine years suspended on several conditions. One of the conditions is that he pay 250000 Zimbabwe dollars in damages to Jefta Dube, a former aide whom he repeatedly raped.