Africa News

Zimbabwe court frees 39 accused of Egypt-style revolt

Mar 7, 2011, 18:19 GMT

Harare - A Zimbabwe court on Monday freed 39 of 45 suspects who were held for 17 days after police raided a meeting where people were discussing the mass uprisings in Egypt and Tunisia and watching footage of the demonstrations.

Magistrate Munato Mutevedzi ordered that six accused would remain in detention on charges of treason - which carries the maximum sentence of death - while they waited for their next court hearing in two weeks.

The magistrate said the 39 people freed had been taken into custody on February 19. Lawyers said those arrested included passers- by and people working in offices in the building where the six remaining accused - students, lawyers and trade unionists - were watching BBC, Al Jazeera and CNN news clips of the protests in the Arab world.

Prosecutors have said the group meant to organize and implement the removal of the constitutional government of Zimbabwe in a manner similar to the uprising in Egypt, which eventually toppled president Hosny Mubarak.

The accused were tortured in custody, their lawyers said, including being lashed on the soles of their feet with broomsticks by secret police interrogators attempting to force them to admit they were plotting President Robert Mugabe's overthrow by mass demonstrations.

Mugabe, 87, has been in power for 31 year, presiding over a country that descended into economic chaos and hyper-inflation, and widespread intimidation, brutality and killings after the presidential election of 2008.

Read more about Politics

Read more about Zimbabwe Justice



COMMENT

FROM THE WEB

Further Reading on M&C

COMMENT on Zimbabwe court frees 39 accused of Egypt-style revolt

comments powered by Disqus

Latest Headlines in Africa

Monsters and Critics is Looking for Writers and Reviewers


Follow Us

Follow M&C on Pinterest

Search

Custom Search

Classic Games on M&C

Crush the Castle 2

Beer Pong

Bubble Bobble

Mah Jong Connect

Donkey Kong

Also Check Out

Papa wants: Dan Aykroyd's Crystal Head's 50th Anniversary Rolling Stone bottle

Papa wants: Dan Aykroyds Crystal Heads 50th Anniversary Rolling Stone bottle
Father's day is coming up this June 16th. ... more

Best New Medicine Cabinet and Beauty Health Staples for May 2013

Best New Medicine Cabinet and Beauty Health Staples for May 2013
This May, we have a small but tight group of new and fabulous finds to tell you about. ... more

Product spotlight: Vice Merchants Sheets bring naughty fun to the linen closet

Product spotlight: Vice Merchants Sheets bring naughty fun to the linen closet
Thanks to a company called Vice Merchants, there is a new trend in bedding… sexy sheets for the same sex couple. ... more

Dieting, Italian Style – Bravissimo!

Dieting, Italian Style – Bravissimo!
Tisanoreica’s Old World Formula Meets The Latest In Medical Science To Lay ‘Waist’ To America’s Obesity Epidemic ... more

Memorial Day Weekend: Angry Orchard enhances Barbecue recipes

Memorial Day Weekend: Angry Orchard enhances Barbecue recipes
Memorial Day Weekend is sliding up on us, and we could not be happier about this. It means a few days where time is a little bit slower, and the food and drink are savory and satisfying but not too heavy. ... more

On the Web

ZergNet