Zim still working on charges
2004-03-11 14:47
Harare - Charges were still being formulated against 64 alleged mercenaries and three others arrested in Zimbabwe at the weekend when a Boeing 727-100 was detained by airport authorities in Harare.
The country's acting attorney-general, Bharat Patel, said on Thursday his office "is still finalising the charges".
They would be brought to court "soon," he said.
Zimbabwe's foreign minister Stan Mudenge said on Wednesday the 67 - citizens of South Africa, Angola, Namibia and the Democratic Republic of Congo - would be hanged if they were found guilty of being mercenaries.
It was not immediately clear if being a mercenary was a crime under Zimbabwean law.
In South Africa it is an offence under the Regulation of Foreign Military Assistance Act.
Home affairs minister Kembo Mohadi added that the group of 64 and an advance party of three in Harare were destined for the West African state of Equatorial Guinea to join others in an coup to overthrow President Teodoro Guema.
Mohadi claimed they had been aided by MI6, the foreign section of British intelligence, the United States' Central Intelligence Agency and Spanish intelligence.
The Boeing 727-100 was impounded on Sunday after the pilot allegedly made a "false declaration" that it was carrying no cargo and only seven crew.
In terms of ordinary Zimbabwean criminal law, police have to either bring suspects to court or release them after 96 hours. The period expired on Wednesday night.
However, authorities could under emergency regulations, in terms of a decree by President Robert Mugabe last month, hold suspects for up to 28 days for alleged crimes against national security.
Logo Logistics Limited, the British-based employer of the men, was arranging legal representation for the men on Thursday, senior executive Charles Burrow said from London by phone.
High pain barrier
Asked whether he was concerned that the men were being tried by media, he answered that he had a high pain barrier.
"I can't imagine anything I say will make a difference," he said. "The media has a job to do."
He would not comment at all on the governments of Zimbabwe, South Africa and Equatorial Guinea describing the men as mercenaries.
Foreign Affairs Minister Nkosazana Dlamini-Zuma said on Wednesday afternoon that her department was in no rush to assist the South Africans in Zimbabwe, or another group which is under house arrest in Equatorial Guinea.
Not exactly innocent
"They are not exactly innocent travellers finding themselves in a difficult situation," she said.
Just hours before Burrow had said he could not praise Dlamini-Zuma's department too highly.
"They are dealing with the matter with energy and despatch. I'm very hopeful the matter will be dealt with very rapidly and have every confidence we'll have the guys back at their homes soon," he said.
Dlamini-Zuma did say the men, who were all travelling on South African passports, would be extended the customary consular services.
- SAPA