JUDGE Tendai Uchena today allowed four Movements for Democratic Change (MDC) activists to challenge their prosecution on terrorism charges in a higher court. In granting the ruling Judge Uchena the High court said in allowing the MDC activists the right to challenge the charges at the Supreme Court will open the way for more many other activists, whose lawyers say thUchena argued that a trial would be illegal because they were abducted by security agents. If the Supreme Court rules in their favour, the charges will be dropped.
Four Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) activists, among them Jestina Mukoko, a prominent activist, say they were abducted from their homes in November and December last year and kept in secret locations where they were tortured by security agents.
The activists were only brought to court in January, and then released on bail the following month after the formation of a new unity government between President Robert Mugabe and Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
The prosecution of the MDC and rights activists, who were formally charged last month, has raised tensions in Zimbabwe’s new administration, which is desperate for billions in foreign donor money to revive a shattered economy. Pressure is mounting on President Robert Mugabes government to release Mukoko amid reports her abduction might be tabled before a European Union (EU) council of ministers meeting in Brussels.
Civic organizations in Zimbabwe have also approached SADC chairperson Kgalema Motlanthe, who is South African President, as well as African Union chairperson Jakaya Kikwete of Tanzania through their embassies in Harare.
They have asked them to weigh in as regional leaders to secure Mukokos release.
Mukoko was seized at gunpoint on Wednesday December 3 2008 from her home in the dormitory town of Norton, 40km west of Harare by about 15 plainclothes men who were driving an unmarked vehicle.
The former broadcaster was now working for the Zimbabwe Peace Project, a human rights group operating in Zimbabwe. She was involved in documenting rampant cases of human rights abuses by the Zimbabwe government.
Post published in: Politics