Mugabe press secretary accused

The press secretary to President Robert Mugabe has been ordered to appear before the High Court to face a contempt of court charge, reports say.

The state-run Sunday Mail newspaper said the contempt of court charge stemmed from criticism made by the official, George Charamba, against a judge who had barred police from meetings of the main trade union federation.

Mr Charamba is alleged to have said the judge's ruling would promote lawlessness by the opposition-aligned unions.

The report said Mr Charamba, who is also the permanent secretary in the Department of Information and Publicity, had refused to comment on the contempt charge, but had confirmed that he had been summoned to appear in court on 27 May.

Last year, the government compelled Zimbabwe's highest judge to take early retirement after a row over court rulings which found against Mr Mugabe's controversial policy to seize white-owned land.

From the newsroom of the BBC World Service