The Zimbabwean opposition leader of the Movement for Democratic Change, Morgan Tsvangirai, was charged with treason for allegedly plotting to kill President Robert Mugabe of Zimbabwe. Charges against Tsvangirai were brought two weeks before the country's 2002 elections, which he narrowly lost to Mugabe. Harare High Court Judge, Paddington Garwe, cleared Tsvangirai of the charges after the state failed to proof that Tsvingarai indeed had plotted to kill the president with the help of Canadian-based political consultant Ari Ben-Menashe. After the verdict his supporters cheered and danced outside the court, though he was still faced with another treason charge for allegedly calling for a violent removal of Mugabe.
15 October 2004
Morgan Tsvangirai is cleared of Treason charges

- Updated
- 30 Sep 2019

How we know this
- 01CBC News,"Zimbabwe opposition leader cleared of treason charge", From CBC News,[Online],available at:www.cbc.ca,[Accessed: 08 October 2013]
Last updated · 30 Sep 2019
South African History Online. (2011, March 16). Morgan Tsvangirai is cleared of Treason charges. South African History Online. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013608
South African History Online (2011) 'Morgan Tsvangirai is cleared of Treason charges', South African History Online, 16 March. Available at: https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013608 (Accessed: 9 November 2026).
South African History Online, Morgan Tsvangirai is cleared of Treason charges [website], https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013608, (accessed 9 November 2026).
"Morgan Tsvangirai is cleared of Treason charges." South African History Online, 16 Mar. 2011, https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013608. Accessed 9 Nov. 2026.
South African History Online. "Morgan Tsvangirai is cleared of Treason charges." South African History Online. March 16, 2011. https://sahistory.org.za/ref/E-0013608.
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