Tsvangirai awarded bail

Morgan Tsvangirai, leader of Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), was on Friday awarded bail and freed after two weeks in custody. Tsvangirai was arrested on 6 June on a second round of treason charges, this time related to the party's anti-government week-long stayaway at the beginning of the month. To be released, Judge Susan Mavangira ordered that he hand over Zim $10 million (US $12 million) in cash and Zim $100 million (US $120,000) in title deeds to property or assets as surety. He was also ordered not to make any statements to incite his supporters to remove the government through violence. As bail conditions for his first treason charges, he has already handed over his passport and agreed to report to the police. Most of the MDC's top leadership are on bail for a variety of charges. While Tsvangirai's bail was being raised on Friday, he was in court for the continuation of his first treason trial. He was joined by Renson Gasela and the party's secretary-general, Welshman Ncube, who were all arrested in connection with an alleged plot to assassinate Mugabe ahead of the last presidential election. Treason carries the death penalty in Zimbabwe. Analysts have warned that the continued incarceration of the MDC's leader could be a test of party loyality and discipline. Its youth wing had already vowed to embark on its own protests if Tsvangirai was not released. The MDC has also filed an application asking the High Court to set a date for the party's challenge to the presidential election victory. The petition, which has been an obstacle to the resumption of reconciliatory talks between the MDC and the ruling ZANU-PF, was filed 15 months ago but a date has not yet been set, in spite of a court order that one be fixed. According to The Herald newspaper, Mugabe appears to have started campaigning for the next parliamentary election. On a tour of rural areas this week he was quoted as saying: "We should start preparing for the elections now, because 2005 is not far away. There is only one and a half to two years to go." While people were free to form political parties, they should "follow channels laid down in the constitution and laws of the country" when seeking political office such as the presidency. "Even if you believe that you have royal blood, you have to wait for the incumbent president to complete his term. Nyembe inobva kuvanhu ... kuvanhu Tsvangirai iwe! (Leadership comes from the people, Tsvangirai!) You don’t just dream being a president and organise people to march to State House for you to take over the presidency," he was reported as saying.