Mugabe succession battle begins, Bloodshed soon to follow.

Zimbabwe chief prosecutor charged over Mugabe bomb plot case

• 9 hours ago
 
• From the section Africa

Image captionThe press gathered as Johannes Tomana arrived at court

Zimbabwe - New Era?

• Zimbabwe's triumvirate retains firm grip on power 
• Profile: Zimbabwe's Emmerson Mnangagwa 
• Profile: Zimbabwe's first lady Grace Mugabe 
• Birth of a Mugabe dynasty in Zimbabwe? 

Zimbabwe's chief prosecutor has been charged with obstructing the course of justice after allegedly dropping charges against people accused of plotting to bomb the president's dairy.

Four army officers also appeared at the magistrates court in the capital Harare charged with treason.

Attorney General Johannes Tomana denies the charges. He was brought to court in the back of a police pick-up truck.

The milk production plant is run by President Robert Mugabe's wife, Grace.

• Africa Live: BBC news updates

The prosecutor told the court that the four army officers were allegedly caught with firearms and sought to get bombs designed to blow up the dairy, reports the BBC's Brian Hungwe from the capital, Harare.

Our correspondent adds that the court was told the four had formed a political party called Zimbabwe People Front and had set up a military training camp.

Mr Tomana is accused of dropping charges against two of the four army officers.

Image copyrightGetty Images

Image captionTwo suspects in the alleged bomb plot were taken to court in prison uniform and their hands chained

Mr Mugabe has been in power since 1980.

The ruling Zanu-PF party has been hit by factionalism as rivals disagree on who will succeed 91-year-old Mr Mugabe.

One faction of the ruling party is backing Grace Mugabe to take over from her husband while another camp is backing Deputy President Emmerson Mnangagwa.