PAC praises Zim on capture

2004-03-12 13:54

Johannesburg - The Pan Africanist Congress (PAC) congratulated Zimbabwe on Friday for arresting the suspected mercenaries.

PAC president Motsoko Pheko said the Zimbabwean government was vigilant in arresting the mercenaries, who were "on a mission to serve the interests of imperialism".

Pheko also called for unity amongst African nations, saying their security and economic advancement lied in it.

"No African country can attain genuine independence and survive on its own without other African states and progressive forces in the world," he said.

On Sunday a Boeing 727-100 plane carrying 64 suspected mercenaries was impounded in Zimbabwe after the pilot allegedly made a "false declaration" that it was carrying no cargo and only seven passengers.

On Wednesday, Zimbabwean Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi said the group and an advance party of three in Harare were destined for the West African state of Equatorial Guinea. They were to join others in an attempt to overthrow President Teodoro Guema.

Mohadi claimed they had been aided by the MI6, the foreign section of British intelligence, the United States' Central Intelligence Agency and Spanish intelligence.

Zimbabwe's Foreign Minister Stan Mudenge also said yesterday the 67 would "face the severest punishment available in our states, including capital punishment" if found guilty of being "foreign mercenaries."

The group comprises South African, Angolan, Namibian, Democratic Republic of Congo nationals.

- SAPA