Bassiouni , PR firm Orvis see opportunity to consult Zimbabwean President Mugabe on putting down rebellion

Six convicted of watching Arab Spring videos to be sentenced in Zimbabwe
20 March, 2012 – gahana mma

Six Zimbabweans convicted of conspiracy to commit public violence after they were caught watching footage of Arab Spring protests will be sentenced Tuesday. The Zimbabweans face six to 10 years in prison or a $2,000 fine.

They were among 46 people arrested on February 19, 2011, during an academic meeting where a video on events in Tunisia and Egypt was shown.

The verdict was met by dismay by some.

“I am very disappointed that they were found guilty,” defense lawyer Alec Muchadehama said shortly after hearing the verdict on Monday.

Rights activist Munyaradzi Gwisai said the verdict was “not surprising.”

“We are not deterred,” Gwisai said. “We are not intimidated.”

Police released 40 of the attendees, but charged the rest with treason or attempt to overthrow the government by unconstitutional means. Those charges were altered to conspiracy to commit public violence.

The government has said the six were plotting an Egyptian-style uprising in the southern African country. Critics have called the charges politically motivated.

The defendants were allegedly watching video footage of protests that led to the ouster of Presidents Zine El Abidine Ben Ali of Tunisia and Hosni Mubarak of Egypt.

Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe, 87, has a history that it is similar to the toppled leaders. He has ruled Zimbabwe since independence in 1980 and has been accused of rigging elections and instituting repressive laws to tighten his grip on power.

The arrests may be an indication authorities are worried the winds of change sweeping across North Africa may inspire Zimbabweans to rise up, too. …more