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Zim opposition leader faces trial PDF print email
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Written by Jelena   
Tuesday, 29 September 2009 11:46
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makoni_simba_-makoni-website-300x201 A losing presidential candidate in Zimbabwe ’s 2008 presidential elections and now a leading opposition figure Simba Makoni will next Tuesday stand trial on allegations of addressing an illegal meeting during his campaigns.
Makoni, a close associate of President Robert Mugabe until he broke away from ZANU PF in February last year to challenge the octogenarian dictator, is being charged under the Public Order and Security Act (POSA).
The charges against Makoni who came a distant third in the first round of the presidential vote last year won by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai stemmed from an alleged meeting attended by about 400 people in Harare.

The meeting was addressed by the former Finance Minister.
According to the state, Makoni organised a public gathering without approval from the police as required under POSA.
Two ZANU PF officials and four police officers have been lined up to testify against the former politburo member.
Police re-opened the case in June this year, according to court documents.
Makoni who formed a loose coalition of independent candidates who all lost to ZANU PF and MDC in parliamentary elections garnered eight percent of the presidential vote.
President Mugabe picked 43 percent of the vote while Mr Tsvangirai received 48 percent of the total votes cast.
The former Southern African Development Community executive secretary has since formed his own Mavambo-Kusile – Dawn party which he says will give Zimbabweans an alternative to the MDC and ZANU PF
Tags: Year: 2009 Location: Africa Category: Protest and Persuassion Category: NonCooperation Protest and Persuassion: Declarations by organizations and institutions Protest and Persuassion: Signed public statements Protest and Persuassion: Declarations of indictment and intention Methods of NonCooperation: Selective social boycott Methods of NonCooperation: Social disobedience Methods of NonCooperation: Refusal of public support Methods of NonCooperation: Literature and speeches advocating resistance
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