Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi was ordered by High Court Judge Charles Hungwe to produce 12 individuals whose whereabouts were unknown to their lawyers.
Mohadi was ordered together with Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri, Homicide Investigations commander Chrispen Makedenge, and a Detective Constable Muhuya to immediately produce the 12 individuals.
Alec Muchadehama, a lawyer for the detained individuals, told United States embassy officials that he had heard from contacts within the Central Intelligence Organization that the detainees had been shuffled by police and CIO officials between various police stations.
Muchadehama said government officials had refused to obey Judge Hungwe’s order and continued to deny knowledge of the whereabouts of the MDC members.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 08HARARE1029, MDC DETAINEES REMAIN UNACCOUNTED FOR, US ACTION
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Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO3754
OO RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN
DE RUEHSB #1029 3231451
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
O 181451Z NOV 08
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 3701
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 2434
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 2552
RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1052
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 1828
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 2183
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2608
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 5036
RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC
RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE
RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC
RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 1701
RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 001029
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR B.WALCH
DRL FOR N. WILETT
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO USAID FOR E. LOKEN AND L. DOBBINS
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR B. PITTMAN
E.O. 12958: DECL: 11/18/2018
SUBJECT: MDC DETAINEES REMAIN UNACCOUNTED FOR, US ACTION
REQUESTED
Classified By: Ambassador James D. McGee for reason 1.4 (d)
¶1. (U) ACTION REQUESTED, SEE PARAGRAPH 5.
¶2. (SBU) From October 27 until November 1, Zimbabwean
security authorities seized 12 individuals, including a
mother and two-year old child, affiliated with the MDC. They
include local and national officials. The adults are
reportedly being interrogated for alleged involvement in
paramilitary camps in Botswana.
¶3. (U) On November 12, High Court judge Charles Hungwe
issued court orders to Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi,
Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri, Homicide
Investigations commander Chrispen Makedenge, and a Detective
Constable Muhuya to immediately produce the 12 individuals
whose wherabouts were unknown to their lawyers.
¶4. (C) Alec Muchadehama, a lawyer for the detained
individuals told us he had heard from contacts within the
Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) that the detainees
had been shuffled by police and CIO officials between various
police stations. Muchadehama said GOZ officials had refused
to obey Judge Hungwe’s order and continued to deny knowledge
of the whereabouts of the MDC members. He requested
assistance in publicizing this incident in order to put
pressure on the GOZ to produce his clients in court.
¶5. (C) ACTION REQUEST: We suggest that the Department
consider issuing a statement along the following lines:
“Reliable reports indicate that 12 individuals including a
mother and two-year old child were abducted by government
security agents between October 27 and November 1. Despite a
court order issued on November 12, the government has refused
them access to their attorneys and has failed to produce them
in court. We call upon the Government of Zimbabwe to adhere
to the lawful court order and to minimum standards of due
process by allowing the detained individuals immediate access
to attorneys, and by producing them in court.” END ACTION
REQUEST.
McGee
(15 VIEWS)
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