Zimbabwean civic groups and opposition political parties began on Thursday a two-week mock public trial of President Robert Mugabe whose verdict is expected to spark countrywide mass protests.
The President is being charged in the mock trial with allegations ranging from sanctioning state-sponsored violence to genocide.
Civic groups involved in the mock trial include the country's labour watchdog, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, as well as students' organisations and the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA). Organisers of the trial said four Zimbabwean opposition political parties had also endorsed the action.
Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) national youth chairman Nelson Chamisa told journalists in Harare, Wednesday, that the mock trial had been prompted by the realisation that Mugabe would never be tried in Zimbabwe's courts. The independence of the country's judiciary has been questioned following the appointment of officials loyal to the ruling ZANU PF and the exodus of judges seen by the government as racist and as undermining the powers of the Presidency.
The mock trial is expected to mark the beginning of mass protests against Mugabe, whose controversial March election victory is being challenged in court by the MDC.
The President is being charged in the mock trial with allegations ranging from sanctioning state-sponsored violence to genocide.
Civic groups involved in the mock trial include the country's labour watchdog, the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, as well as students' organisations and the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA). Organisers of the trial said four Zimbabwean opposition political parties had also endorsed the action.
Opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) national youth chairman Nelson Chamisa told journalists in Harare, Wednesday, that the mock trial had been prompted by the realisation that Mugabe would never be tried in Zimbabwe's courts. The independence of the country's judiciary has been questioned following the appointment of officials loyal to the ruling ZANU PF and the exodus of judges seen by the government as racist and as undermining the powers of the Presidency.
The mock trial is expected to mark the beginning of mass protests against Mugabe, whose controversial March election victory is being challenged in court by the MDC.