Justice Paddington Garwe ruled that the certificate issued by Nicholas Goche, Minister of State Security, claiming that information on the operations of the Central Intelligence Organization was privileged, was valid but the certificate did not exempt CIO boss Happyton Bonyongwe from answering questions on his role in the destruction of the payment vouchers.
The CIO had admitted destroying vouchers which showed payments to Ari Ben Menashe who had implicated Movement for Democratic Change leader Morgan Tsvangirai in a plot to assassinate President Robert Mugabe.
The judge did not think that the questions Tsvangirai’s lawyer George Bizos asked Bonyongwe regarding the vouchers would reveal the operations of the CIO.
Defence attorney Innocent Chagonda said that although Garwe had given the defence team permission to ask Bonyongwe about the vouchers, some of the questions they wanted to ask about the payments pertained to the operations of the CIO. He,therefore, believed that it would still be difficult to ask Bonyongwe questions about the vouchers.
The State appeared to be desperate to prove its case against Tsvangirai and his lieutenants Welshman Ncube and Renson Gasela and was reportedly trying to bring in a “surprise” witness, Edward Simms.
Simms was allegedly in the grainy video which showed Tsvangirai and Menashe discussing the assassination plot. Simms was allegedly a Central Intelligence Agency operative but the CIA denied this.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 03HARARE1123, STATE TO PRODUCE SURPRISE WITNESS, JUDGE MAKES
If you are new to these pages, please read an introduction on the structure of a cable as well as how to discuss them with others. See also the FAQs
|
Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.
S E C R E T HARARE 001123
SIPDIS
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR J. FRAZER
LONDON FOR C. GURNEY
PARIS FOR C. NEARY
NAIROBI FOR T. PFLAUMER
BANGKOK FOR WIN DAYTON
DS/OP/AF
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2013
SUBJECT: STATE TO PRODUCE SURPRISE WITNESS, JUDGE MAKES
DIPLOMATIC RULING – TSVANGIRAI TREASON TRIAL WEEK ELEVEN
REF: A. HARARE 1024
¶B. HARARE 946
¶C. HARARE 568
¶D. HARARE 484
¶E. HARARE 360
¶F. HARARE 313
¶G. HARARE 250
Classified By: Political Officer Audu Besmer for reasons 1.5 b/d
Summary:
——–
¶1. (S) Although the Tsvangirai treason trial was brief during
the week of May 27 – 30, possibly in anticipation of the MDC
planned mass action, on May 29, the Deputy Canadian High
Commissioner informed us that according to Ottawa
intelligence sources, the prosecution intended to introduce
“Edward Simms” as a surprise witness in the coming days.
Simms attended the Montreal meeting; the State alleges he is
a CIA agent but has kept other details of his identity
secret. Bringing him forward now suggests the State is more
SIPDIS
desperate to prove its case. Justice Paddington Garwe ruled
that Brigadier Bonyongwe could not be compelled to answer
questions on the operations of the CIO, but should answer
questions on his role in the destruction of the payment
vouchers. End Summary.
Surprise State Witness?
———————–
¶2. (S) On May 29, the Deputy Canadian High Commissioner
informed us that according to Ottawa intelligence sources,
the prosecution intended to introduce a surprise witness this
week, and Ottawa suspected the witness to be the heretofore
not-clearly-identified “Edward Simms”. (Note: According to
the State’s star witness Ari Ben Menashe, the leader of the
Montreal meeting depicted on the video tape is “Edward
Simms”, an employee of the CIA. The defense has published an
artist’s rendering of “Simms” based on the grainy video in an
attempt to identify him. End Note.) By June 2, however, the
State had not produced Simms. (It is also possible that the
State intends another “surprise” unrelated to Simms to
bolster its case.)
Judge Issues Diplomatic Ruling
——————————
¶3. (U) Also on May 29, Justice Paddington Garwe ruled that
the certificate issued by Nicholas Goche, Minister of State
Security – claiming that information on the operations of the
Central Intelligence Organization was privileged – was valid
(Ref A). Garwe did note, however, that the certificate could
not exempt Brigadier Bonyongwe from answering questions on
his role in the destruction of the payment vouchers. Garwe
did not think that the questions Advocate Bizos asked
Bonyongwe regarding the vouchers would reveal the operations
of the CIO.
¶4. (C) According to defense attorney Innocent Chagonda,
although Garwe had given the defense team permission to ask
Bonyongwe about the vouchers, some of the questions they
wanted to ask about the payments did pertain to the
operations of the CIO. Chagonda believed it would still be
difficult to ask Bonyongwe questions about the vouchers.
Comment:
——–
¶5. (S) The CIA has confirmed that Simms is not an employee.
As such his bona fides are questionable, and it is unclear
what value to the State he would be as a witness. We presume
his arrival was delayed and he still may come in the coming
days. It would appear the State was reluctant to bring him
forward, or he personally did not want to come forward
previously. Either way, that he now may appear suggests the
State is taking more desperate measures to prove its case.
Garwe appears to have made a diplomatic decision on the
certificate issued by Minister Goche to appease both parties
– he upheld it, but also stated that the defense could
proceed with their questioning. End Comment.
SULLIVAN
(592 VIEWS)
