Lawmaker pleads in subversion case

A leading Zimbabwean opposition lawmaker has pleaded not guilty to charges that he planned to overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa. Job Sikhala, vice-chairman of the main opposition, the MDC, was arrested in July after he criticised the government at a rally in the southern Masvingo Province. A report on the News24 site notes that prosecutor Tawanda Zvekare told the Masvingo court that Sikhala was planning to subvert the government 'through unconstitutional means' at the MDC event. Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said the prosecution 'is just harassment of the opposition legislator through the use of the criminal justice system'.