An application by Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai and two senior party officials to have treason charges against them dropped has been postponed to next week, a newspaper reported on Monday.
The government-run Herald reported state lawyer Joseph Musakwa as saying the court would not be sitting on Monday as scheduled as they were still preparing their response to the defence’s application.
Last month the state closed its case against Tsvangirai and two senior officials charged with plotting to ”eliminate” President Robert Mugabe ahead of the 2002 presidential poll, which Mugabe won.
The three deny the charges, which carry a death sentence on conviction.
At the close of the state’s case Tsvangirai’s lawyers announced that they would make an application for the court to drop the charges against the MDC trio because it said the state had not proved a case against them.
The marathon trial started in February and has continued almost uninterrupted since.
The evidence against Tsvangirai hinges on an unclear and partly inaudible videotape made in late 2001, in which he allegedly requests the assistance of Canada-based political consultant Ari Ben Menashe to eliminate Mugabe.
Tsvangirai and his co-accused say they were set up.
Meanwhile Zimbabwe police arrested the opposition mayor of Harare on Monday
at his offices in the capital, a residents’ association official said.
It was not immediately clear on what charges Mayor Elias Mudzuri was arrested, but he had gone back to work on Monday after several weeks’ leave despite having been suspending from his duties by the government.
”He [Mudzuri] has been arrested. We’re not sure on what charges,” said Mike Davies, the chair of the Combined Harare Residents Association.
Mudzuri was suspended in April by Local Minister Ignatius Chombo for alleged misconduct and supporting two anti-government strikes.- Sapa-AFP