The trial of MDC Director-General, Toendepi Shonhe, who is facing trumped-up charges of perjury kicked off at the Harare Magistrates Court today. However, the trial was adjourned to Thursday, 16 July 2009 after two State witnesses, Chris Mutangadura, a law officer at the Attorney-Generals office and Chief Superintendent, Magwenzi failed to turn-upShonhe, who is denying the charges, was arrested last month for perjury under Section 183 (1) of Criminal Law and Codification Reform Act. Shonhe was accused of having lied under oath when he swore to an affidavit that three members of the MDC had been re-abducted by State security agents.
The three activists, Lloyd Tarumbwa, Fani Tembo and Terry Musona, had been taken by the State security agents from their homes in Banket for interviews at the Attorney Generals office in Harare. Hundreds of MDC MPs, supporters and officials have in recent months been victims of political persecution on trumped-up charges, which have spilled into the courts.