Morgan Tsvangirai - Zimbabwe's Opposition Leader Is Released

yahoo.com news ^ | June 20, 2003 | Angus Shaw, AP

[Cincinatus' Wife]

HARARE, Zimbabwe - Zimbabwe's opposition leader was released on bail Friday after two weeks in jail on treason charges, but he was told he may not call for President Robert Mugabe's overthrow.

Accompanied by his wife and a small throng of supporters, Morgan Tsvangirai left a Harare prison after delivering four cardboard boxes stuffed with 10 million Zimbabwe dollars - about $12,000 - in bail.

Under the conditions of his release, Tsvangirai is barred from advocating Mugabe's removal by what Judge Susan Mavangira termed "violent or other unlawful means."

Tsvangirai, the head of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, was arrested June 6 on treason charges following a week of anti-government strikes that shut down much of the already fragile economy.

Opposition officials said Tsvangirai was held in a filthy, overcrowded cell. They vowed to continue their struggle.

"His incarceration has only served to strengthen the people's resolve to intensify peaceful efforts to tackle the crisis of legitimacy in Zimbabwe," opposition spokesman Paul Themba Nyathi said.

Mugabe responded to the protest by sending out security forces to crush street demonstrations. State prosecutors said Tsvangirai had called on supporters to oust Mugabe and incited them to violence.

Tsvangirai denies those allegations, saying he called for peaceful protests to get Mugabe, 79, to the negotiating table to discuss the nation's worsening political and economic crisis and his possible retirement after 23 years in power.

Tsvangirai and two senior opposition officials are already on trial on treason charges, which carries a possible death penalty, for allegedly plotting to assassinate Mugabe two years ago.

The three politicians say they were framed by the government to weaken their party. Tsvangirai ran against Mugabe in last year's elections, which independent observers say were marred by state-orchestrated political violence, intimidation and vote rigging.

Mavangira also ordered Tsvangirai to hand over property deeds or rights to other assets worth $120,000.

The opposition blames Mugabe for crippling the economy and creating acute shortages of fuel, food, medicine and essential imports. Mass famine was avoided this year only by foreign humanitarian aid.

Zimbabwe's economy currently is in its worst crisis since independence in 1980 with 269 percent inflation, widespread unemployment and the near collapse of commercial agriculture since Mugabe started redistributing 5,000 white-owned farms to black Zimbabweans.

The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, a group of 350 civil organizations, said in a report Thursday the opposition's objectives in calling the protests earlier this month were unclear and that publicity for it was confusing.

Some of the publicity called for "a final push" to remove Mugabe. Other fliers said the protests were to bring him to the negotiating table.

The coalition said the opposition "dangerously oversimplified" the protests, leaving many of its supporters with the naive expectation the entrenched government would lay down its arms in a single week of protests.

The opposition has promised more protests and "mass action."

The coalition said more coordination and better planning was needed in future protests for democratic reform.

It said at least 600 people - including five opposition lawmakers and scores of district party officials - were arrested in the recent crackdown.

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Zimbabwe opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is hugged by his wife Susan outside the prison gates in Harare, Friday, June 20, 2003, after being released on bail. Tsvangirai had been in jail for two weeks on treason charges. (AP Photo) EDS NOTE: LIGHTER AREA AT LEFT IS CAUSED BY LENS FLARE FROM SUN

Zimbabwe opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) President Morgan Tsvangirai is embraced by his daughter Millicent after arriving home following his release from the Harare Remand Prison June 20, 2003. Tsvangirai who is facing a second count of treason, which carries the death penalty, after the state said he asked his supporters to violently overthrow President Robert Mugabe, has spent the last two weeks in custody. REUTERS/Howard Burditt

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!

[lilylangtree]

"Mass famine was avoided this year only by foreign humanitarian aid. Zimbabwe's economy currently is in its worst crisis since independence in 1980 with 269 percent inflation, widespread unemployment and the near collapse of commercial agriculture since Mugabe started redistributing 5,000 white-owned farms to black Zimbabweans."

Once thriving economically-independent African jewel named Rhodesia has been changed to another useless 3rd world African country dependent upon international handouts with tyrannical dictator-for-life that has raped, pillage and ruined the country now called Zimbabwe. Is anybody surprised?

[Cincinatus' Wife]

These men who covet power will destroy everything and blame everyone else to hold it.

[headsonpikes]

It is good news that Mr. Tsvangirai has been released alive.

Perhaps Mugabe and his henchmen can be the only people to die, henceforth.

I pray for the liberation of Zimbabwe's suffering people.

Thanks for the ping. ;^)

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Bump!

[happygrl]

Praying for Zimbabwe BUMP!

[cyborg]

Expand the WOT... Mugabe is a terrorist thug.

[headsonpikes]

Hopeful Saturday bump. ;^)