Lawyers accused of plotting to overthrow the government

Two Harare lawyers, Sternford Moyo and Wilbert Mapombere, were arrested for allegedly plotting to overthrow the government and were released after 48 hours.

Moyo was president of the Law Society of Zimbabwe and Mapombere the society’s executive secretary.

The two were alleged to have written letters to the British High Commission in Harare and the Movement for Democratic Change calling for the suspension of crisis talks between the MDC and the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front.

The two were to appear in court for contravening a section of the Public Order and Security Act.

Full cable:

Viewing cable 02HARARE1378, LAW SOCIETY LEADERS FREED AFTER 48 HOURS IN JAIL

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UNCLAS HARARE 001378

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/PD, AF/S, AF/RA

NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER

LONDON FOR GURNEY

PARIS FOR NEARY

NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: ZI PHUM KPAO

SUBJECT: LAW SOCIETY LEADERS FREED AFTER 48 HOURS IN JAIL

¶1.   Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) President Sternford Moyo

and LSZ Executive Secretary Wilbert Mapombere were released

from police custody on June 5 after spending 48 hours in

custody on charges of plotting to overthrow the government

of Robert Mugabe. The two have been ordered to appear at

the Harare Magistrates’ Court on June 6 to be formally

charged for contravening a section of the newly enacted

Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

¶2.   Moyo and Mapombere are alleged to have written letters

to the British High Commission in Harare and the opposition

Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), calling for the

suspension of crisis talks between the opposition MDC and

Mugabe’s ruling ZANU PF party. The government also accused

Moyo and Mapombere of writing letters in support of mass

action. The two men have denied the charges as “fabricated

and without any legal foundation.”

¶2.   Meanwhile, the High Court of Zimbabwe ruled that Moyo

and Mapombere’s arrest was lawful. The ruling by Judge

President Justice Garwe in Harare yesterday dismissed an

application by the two lawyers that sought to have the

arrest and detention declared unlawful.

SULLIVAN

(54 VIEWS)