Former Zimbabwean newscaster Jestina Mukoko and nine other opposition activists were charged today with plotting to overthrow President Robert Mugabe's government.
Mukoko, the head of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, was taken away at gunpoint in Harare on December 3rd by unidentified men. If found guilty the activists could face the death penalty, lawyers said.
Recent arrests of activists prompted opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai to threaten to suspend deadlocked talks with Mugabe on sharing power, adding to doubts over chances for a deal that could rescue Zimbabwe from economic meltdown.
The state-run Heraldnewspaper said earlier they would be charged with recruiting or attempting to recruit people to undergo military training to topple the government.
The opposition says scores of activists continue to be abducted by authorities since the run-up to a violent June presidential election.
Mukoko's case is the most high-profile.
Some of the activists had recruited people for military training in Botswana, including a police constable, the newspaper said, citing a police statement.
It said the plan was to "forcibly depose" Mugabe's government and replace it with one headed by Tsvangirai.
Reuters