Court throws out case against anti-Mugabe pastor

A Zimbabwean court on Wednesday dismissed charges against a religious leader accused of trying to overthrow the government, saying prosecutors did not properly present the case.

“It’s my finding that the National Prosecuting Authority cannot charge the accused for (the) first time in court without charges being read out to him,” Magistrate Vakayi Chikwekwe told a packed courtroom

His lawyers successfully argued that the charge of subversion had been added at the last minute, denying him a fair trial.

The pastor has been at the heart of a social media campaign denouncing the government’s management of the economy.