Wednesday, January 7, 2009

Zimbabwe Opposition Activists Face Death Penalty Over Bombings


The Telegraph:

Seven members of Zimbabwe's opposition could face the death penalty after being charged with involvement in bombings last year.

The seven members of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), who were formally charged and pleaded not guilty, are among rights activists and opponents of President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party detained in recent weeks on what the opposition has said are trumped up charges designed to crack down on dissent.

The seven accused were charged with terrorism, banditry and insurgency, and could face the death penalty if convicted.

They include Gandi Mudzingwa, an adviser to the MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, and Chris Dhlamini, the MDC's head of security.

Their lawyer, Alec Muchadehama, told the judge that the charges were "ridiculous and scandalous".

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