This archive report was first published on 9 July 2019.
On July 9, 2019, Zimbabwe's government took a significant step against the opposition MDC party when its vice-chairman, Job Sikhala, was charged with treason.
According to his lawyer, Obey Shava, Sikhala was accused of saying the party would overthrow the government before the next election.
Shava told AFP that his client denied the charges, stating that Sikhala had been formerly charged with attempting to overthrow the government unconstitutionally.