Zimbabwe’s main opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), on Monday launched an appeal for help in raising the steep bail set last week for the release of its leader Morgan Tsvangirai, charged with treason.
”The president of the MDC was granted bail of 10-million (Zimbabwean) dollars on Friday. Given the limited resources that the party is operating on it has become necessary for the party to appeal to all Zimbabweans to assist …to pay this amount,” said an ad published in the independent Daily News.
Tsvangirai was arrested on June 6, the last day of week-long anti-government protests organised by his party, and charged with treason for allegedly inciting Zimbabweans to violently oust the government of President Robert Mugabe.
Four days later a magistrates court charged him with treason — the second such charge brought against the MDC leader — and he was ordered to be held in custody for one month.
Treason is punishable by death in Zimbabwe.
Tsvangirai’s lawyers were given leave to apply for bail, but that hearing dragged on and Tsvangirai had spent 14 nights in prison before a High Court judge set his very stringent bail conditions and he was released on Friday.
In addition to the 10-million-Zimbabwean dollars (US$12 500) bail, the court ordered Tsvangirai not to make ”any statement that advocates the removal of the government or the state president by violence” and to lodge title deeds for property worth 100-million Zimbabwean dollars with the court.
”We remain firmly of the view that Mr Tsvangirai is innocent,” the advertisement said.
”He is being persecuted for fighting for justice and peace in Zimbabwe. He is being persecuted for fighting for the people of Zimbabwe to have enough food. We also believe that the state seeks to kill the MDC through excessive bail payouts and legal fees.”
The MDC blames Mugabe’s regime for exacerbating Zimbabwe’s economic and social woes through misgovernance, and had called on Zimbabweans to protest against the government by not going to work and by holding ”peaceful marches for democracy.”
Some 70% of Zimbabwe’s workforce is unemployed, annual inflation exceeded 300%last month, and nearly half the country’s 11,6-million people are threatened by famine caused by a drought and chaotic land reforms.
The work stoppages called for by the MDC were generally well followed in the southern African country’s cities, but attempts to hold marches were put down, often forcibly, by security forces and pro-Mugabe militia groups.
Tsvangirai faces another charge of treason, along with two key members of his party, for allegedly plotting to eliminate Mugabe ahead of the 2001 presidential poll, which Mugabe won.
The three deny the charges. A treason trial involving the three has been underway since February. – Sapa-AFP