Six fined for ‘Zimbabwe coup plot’

Six Zimbabwean activists who watched video footage of the Arab Spring were yesterday given fines and suspended jail sentences after being found guilty of plotting to overthrow president Robert Mugabe.

The five men and a woman – including a University of Zimbabwe law lecturer – were arrested in February last year after a meeting they called to discuss revolts in Egypt and Tunisia was infiltrated by Mr Mugabe’s secret police.

A further 39 people arrested with them were later released. The six were initially charged with treason and could have faced the death penalty, but the charges were altered.

They claimed they were tortured to force them to admit they intended to oust the ailing Mr Mugabe, who is now 88.

With riot police surrounding the court, Judge Kudakwashe Jarabini sentenced each of the activists to a two-year jail term suspended for six years, a £315 fine and 420 hours’ community service. There had been fears the judge would impose a maximum ten-year jail term after a state prosecutor suggested they should be stoned.

Mr Mugabe was terrified by the chain of Arab uprisings and made it clear none would be tolerated in Zimbabwe. He is pushing for elections this year to end a feeble coalition with Morgan Tsvangirai of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).