Zimbabwe official in murder case

August 7, 1980

At a special court session in the central police station, Wednesday, Ed gar Tekere, a member of Prime Minister Robert Mugabe's government, was charged with the fatal shooting of a white farmer.

The move is potentially the greatest blow to Prime Minister Mugabe's government since it took office on April 18, when Rhodesia became Zimbabwe under black majority rule.

Mr. Tekere, who is manpower minister and also secretary-general of Mr. Mugabe's Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front, is the third-making member of the ruling party and fourth-ranking member of the 23-member Cabinet.He has emerged as one of the most radical members of the new government, often at odds with Mr. Mugabe over the white minority role in Zimbabwe.