CNBC Africa News Wrap

Fri, 12 Sep 2008 17:21



ZUMA

A South African court has ruled that a decision to charge ruling party leader Jacob Zuma was invalid. He was facing charges of corruption, fraud and money laundering relating to a multi-billion dollar 1999 arms deal. A judge in Pietermaritzburg says there is reason to believe the decision to charge him was politically motivated. His words were drowned out by cheers of supporters outside the court. The decision effectively clears the path for Zuma to become president unless the prosecutors decide to re-charge him.

Judge Chris Nicholson says the decision to prosecute without consulting Zuma was invalid and he has ordered the charges to be set aside. Zuma's lawyers are also applying for a permanent stay of prosecution in a separate case. The charges against the ANC leader are related to South Africa's largest post-apartheid arms deal, involving contracts totalling R30 billion rand to modernise its national defence force. The deal involved companies from Germany, Italy, Sweden, Britain, France and South Africa.

ZIMBABWE

Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai is due to meet President Robert Mugabe to discuss details of a breakthrough power-sharing government. The meeting follows an announcement last night that a deal had been struck after seven weeks of talks. It is thought that Tsvangirai will become Prime Minister and will chair a council of ministers. Mugabe will remain President and head the cabinet. Tsvangirai has confirmed the deal, but Mugabe has yet to comment.

South African President Thabo Mbeki, who mediated the talks, says the agreement will be signed and made public on Monday. Negotiations started at the end of July, but had stalled over the allocation of executive power between Mugabe and Tsvangirai. The breakthrough came after the last four days of talks in the Zimbabwean capital, Harare.