[DEBATE] : Fwd: [MDC Media Release] MDC Response to Chrges Against Tendai Biti

[Dominic Tweedie]

---------- Forwarded message ----------
From: Nqobizitha Mlilo M <nmlilo at gmail.com>
Date: 2008/6/12
Subject: [MDC Media Release] MDC Response to Chrges Against Tendai Biti
To: mdc-media-releases at googlegroups.com


MDC UPDATE
18.45 Thursday 12 June


Tendai Biti Charged With Treason


The Movement for Democratic Change dismisses as ludicrous the charges
of treason levelled against its Secretary General, Tendai Biti.

Speaking from Harare, MDC Spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa, said, "Tendai
Biti is a proud Zimbabwean who has been at the forefront of the
struggle for a more democratic and prosperous country. He has at heart
only the best intent for the country, its sovereignity and its
people".

"Indeed, if any person's commitment to Zimbabwe should be questioned,
it is those individual's in Mugabe's regime who have orchestrated the
country's slide into dictatorship, economic ruin and impoverishment,"
Mr Chamisa added.

Mr Chamisa also said that, "Tendai is a man of moral courage and
vision who knew what the regime had in store for him and decided to
risk his own freedom to show to the world its illegitimacy and
disregard for the rule of law".

The MDC believes that these charges represent yet another facet in
Mugabe's campaign to subvert the will of the people ahead of the
Presidential runoff through illegal detentions and a massive campaign
of state-sponsored violence against the MDC and its supporters.

Now that the Mugabe regime has declared the charges against Mr Biti,
the MDC demands that his lawyers be allowed access to him and that an
independent judicial process take its course.