Zim drops charges against energy minister Mangoma

Zimbabwe state prosecutors say they have withdrawn corruption charges against the country's energy minister.

Minister Elton Mangoma, a founder of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's former opposition party, was arrested in March over allegations that he interfered in a deal to buy equipment for the state electricity company.

Mangoma was also acquitted last month over allegations that he bypassed governmental procedures by buying gasoline from a South African firm in January. He spent a week in jail after the second arrest.

State prosecutor Christopher Mutangadura said Monday the state's only option was to drop the similar charges after Mangoma's first acquittal on lack of evidence.

Tsvangirai's party cited both cases as intimidation against its ministers and officials.