Vermeulen trial set for December 6

Mark Vermeulen leaves the magistrate court, © Getty Images

The trial of Mark Vermeulen, who is charged with arson attacks on the Zimbabwe Cricket Academy and the Zimbabwe board's headquarters, was postponed until December 6 after a brief hearing in Harare.

Magistrate Omega Mugumbate agreed to a defence application for the adjournment in order to allow Eric Matinenga, Vermeulen's lawyer, to free up his schedule. Matinenga is a leading advocate who also represented Zimbabwe's main opposition leader, Morgan Tsvangirayi, after he was accused of engaging the services of a Canadian political consultancy firm to assassinate President Robert Mugabe and topple his government in a coup.

Vermeulen was released on bail but has to report to the police on a daily as well as surrender his passport. He faces two counts of arson and if found guilty he could be convicted to up to 25 years in prison with hard labour.