[Cincinatus' Wife]

BBC: Zimbabwe witness 'a fraudster' [Full Text] Tsvangirai says he is being framed Lawyers defending Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on treason charges have accused the key prosecution witness of being a serial fraudster. They say that Canada-based political consultant Ari Ben-Menashe video-taped a meeting with Mr Tsvangirai as part of a government plot to stifle the opposition. Mr Tsvangirai and two colleagues from the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) pleaded not guilty to treason charges when the trial began on Monday.

Mr Ben-Menashe, a former Israeli intelligence officer, says the three contracted him to assassinate President Robert Mugabe before last year's elections. Mr Mugabe won but international observers said the poll was marred by violence and fraud and Mr Tsvangirai is contesting the result in court.

Coincidence

South African anti-apartheid lawyer George Bizos said prosecutors would not give him any information on Mr Ben-Menashe's work for the government, though the consultant testified that he had been paid about $1m for his lobbying work. Prosecutors said Mr Ben Menashe's services to the government were unrelated to the treason charges, Mr Bizos told Judge Paddington Garwe.

"There is a similarity between the fraud we say was committed against the MDC and its office bearers and a number of other frauds that have been committed by the witness and his companies by interfering with high profile political matters, getting money and then turning the tables against the people to whom the fraudulent representations were made," Mr Bizos said.

The lawyer submitted documents of a London arbitration court ruling that one of Mr Ben-Menashe's companies had failed to deliver $7million-worth of promised corn to Zambia. Mr Ben-Menashe said that deal was altered by former Zambian President Frederick Chiluba and was still being contested by lawyers.

'Not elimination'

The court has also been watching the grainy video, which Mr Ben-Menashe recorded as evidence against Mr Tsvangirai. [End]

[Cincinatus' Wife]

Zimbabwe's opposition frayed - treason trial of Tsvangirai has tied hands of followers.***NCA chairman Lovemore Madhuku, a thin lawyer in a crumpled suit whose fiery calls for action contrast greatly to Tsvangirai's pleas for caution, says the protests failed because the MDC did not support them. The MDC must be willing to risk the arrest, torture, and perhaps even death of their followers through peaceful protest, he says.

"If Morgan had come out, I think it would made a difference," says Mr. Madhuku. "Now the people are losing faith, there is no doubt about it. He may lose the momentum."

But Tsvangirai and others in the MDC say the failure of the NCA to attract widespread support for their "stay-aways" demonstrate the danger of moving to fast. Any action must be planned carefully. Failed action, they say, is worse than none at all. Tsvangirai insists that plans are being made, but that he is not at liberty to discuss them. But even he acknowledges that action is difficult while, as he puts it, "the noose" is around his neck.***