Zimbabwe tries key opposition figure

HARARE, Thursday

A losing presidential candidate in Zimbabwe’s 2008 presidential elections and now a leading opposition figure Dr Simba Makoni will on Tuesday stand trial on allegations of addressing an illegal meeting during his campaigns.

Dr Makoni, a close associate of President Robert Mugabe until he broke away from Zanu PF to challenge the veteran leader on the eve of the historic polls, is being charged under the controversial Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and human rights activists say Mr Mugabe is using the piece of legislation to persecute his perceived opponents.

The charges against Dr Makoni who came a distant third in the first round of the presidential vote won by Mr Tsvangirai stemmed from an alleged meeting attended by about 400 people.

The meeting was addressed by the former Finance Minister.

According to the State, Dr Makoni organised a public gathering without approval from the police as required under POSA.

Two Zanu PF officials and four police officers have been lined up to testify against the former long serving member of the communist style politburo of Mr Mugabe’s party.

Police re-opened the case in June this year, according to court documents.

Dr Makoni who formed a loose coalition of independent candidates who all lost to Zanu PF and MDC in parliamentary elections garnered eight percent of the presidential vote.

President Mugabe picked 43 percent of the vote while Mr Tsvangirai received 48 percent of the total votes cast.

The former Southern African Development Community executive secretary has since formed his own Mavambo-Kusile – Dawn party which he says will give Zimbabweans an alternative to the MDC and Zanu PF.

The two main parties formed a coalition government in February.

Mr Tsvangirai has said the coalition is in danger of collapsing if draconian legislation such as POSA that has also resulted in the prosecution of a number of MPs from his party are not repealed immediately.