Mtetwa asked court to deduct costs from Mohadi’s salary

Harare lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa filed an application with the High Court on May 21, 2003 seeking to compel Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi to return of expelled journalist Andrew Meldrum to Zimbabwe.

Meldrum had been deported for publishing a false story which he had lifted from the Daily News which claimed that ZANU-PF supporters had beheaded a 53-year-old woman.

Mtetwa sought a ruling that would compel Mohadi, Chief Immigration Officer Elasto Mugwadi, and Evans Siziba, a senior immigration officer, to “ensure Meldrum’s return or face jail”.

Mtetwa wanted the three to “pay for the costs incurred by her client as a direct result of their actions, from their pockets. . .”.

She also sought an order to force the Comptroller and Auditor General to deduct the money directly from the salaries of Mohadi, Mugwadi and Siziba, and to provide the court with proof of those deductions.

Full cable:

Viewing cable 03HARARE1035, LAWYER SEEKS COURT ORDER FOR RETURN OF EXPELLED

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This record is a partial extract of the original cable. The full text of the original cable is not available.

280900Z May 03

UNCLAS HARARE 001035

SIPDIS

DEPT FOR AF/PDPA FOR DALTON, MITCHELL AND SIMS

NSC FOR JENDAYI FRAZER

LONDON FOR GURNEY

PARIS FOR NEARY

NAIROBI FOR PFLAUMER

E.O. 12958: N/A

TAGS: PREL PHUM KPAO ZI

SUBJECT: LAWYER SEEKS COURT ORDER FOR RETURN OF EXPELLED

JOURNALIST

¶1.   Beatrice Mtetwa, lawyer for expelled U.S. citizen

journalist Andrew Meldrum, has filed an application in the

High Court seeking the return of her client, expelled on

May 16. The application, filed on May 21, seeks a ruling

that would compel Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi, Chief

Immigration Office, Elasto Mugwadi, and Evan Siziba, a

senior immigration officer, to “ensure Meldrum’s return or

face jail.” Mtetwa also wants the trio to “pay for the

costs incurred by her client as a direct result of their

actions, from their pockets. . .”

¶2.   Mtetwa is also seeking a High Court order to force the

GoZ Comptroller and Auditor General to deduct the money

directly from the salaries of Mohadi, Mugwadi and Siziba,

and to provide the court with proof of those deductions.

SULLIVAN

(13 VIEWS)