The March 9 & 10 elections in Zimbabwe have taken an even more bizarre turn than was expected, under the regime of President Robert Mugabe.
On February 25, Morgan Tsvangirai, opposition leader and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Presidential Candidate was arrested for Treason. The next day, MDC Secretary-General Professor Welshman Ncube and Renson Gasela, Member of Parliament for Gweru Rural, were also charged with Treason, after interrogation in Harare. All three men have been released and are represented by MDC lawyer, Innocent Chagonda of Atherstone and Cook.
On February 25, Morgan Tsvangirai, opposition leader and Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Presidential Candidate was arrested for Treason. The next day, MDC Secretary-General Professor Welshman Ncube and Renson Gasela, Member of Parliament for Gweru Rural, were also charged with Treason, after interrogation in Harare. All three men have been released and are represented by MDC lawyer, Innocent Chagonda of Atherstone and Cook.
The charges arise from a video shown, February 19, on the government funded Australian television station, Special Broadcasting Services (SBS), wherein Mr. Tsvangirai is allegedly seen discussing, with two men, the possible assassination of President Mugabe. The meeting took place at the R.A.C. Club in London after previous meetings in Montreal.
One of the men is Ari Ben-Menashe, a former Israeli Intelligence operative, now a Director of Dickens and Madson, a Canadian consultancy firm based in Montrea, which has acted as political advisers to President Mugabe, for several years. The other man is Alexandre Legault, also a Director of Dickens and Madson.
One of the men is Ari Ben-Menashe, a former Israeli Intelligence operative, now a Director of Dickens and Madson, a Canadian consultancy firm based in Montrea, which has acted as political advisers to President Mugabe, for several years. The other man is Alexandre Legault, also a Director of Dickens and Madson.
Police are also seeking Rupert Johnson, a South African businessman, who introduced Professor Ncube and Mr. Gasela to the Canadian company.
The timing of the release of the video, so close to the upcoming election, may give some indication of the actual reasons for the charges. Casting doubts upon the character and integrity of the MDC leadership can only help the incumbent regime. Otherwise, it would seem normal to question anyone suspected of Treason, as soon as the video was made. Since the makers of the video are advisers to President Mugabe, this would not have been difficult.
The timing of the release of the video, so close to the upcoming election, may give some indication of the actual reasons for the charges. Casting doubts upon the character and integrity of the MDC leadership can only help the incumbent regime. Otherwise, it would seem normal to question anyone suspected of Treason, as soon as the video was made. Since the makers of the video are advisers to President Mugabe, this would not have been difficult.