Prosecutors in Zimbabwe have dropped corruption charges against Energy Minister Elton Mangoma, a top aide of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai.
The decision Monday comes after Mangoma was acquitted last month on other charges he bypassed governmental procedures by purchasing gasoline from a South African firm. Prosecutors said the more recent charges were dropped because they were similar to those of which Mangoma was acquitted last month.
Prime Minister Tsvangirai's party says such charges against Mangoma and others are cases of intimidation by those close to President Robert Mugabe.
In another development, the Associated Press reports state prosecutors have withdrawn treason charges against six activists charged with plotting an Egyptian-style uprising to oust longtime President Mugabe. One of the six is a former legislator in Tsvangirai's party.
Some information for this report was provided by AP and AFP.
