TSVANGIRAI BAIL HEARING PENDING
SIPDIS
——————————-
¶4. (SBU) AS OF LATE THIS AFTERNOON, JUNE 9, JUDGE GARWE WHO
IS PRESIDING OVER THE ONGOING TREASON TRIAL BEFORE THE HIGH
COURT DISMISSED THE GOVERNMENT'S APPLICATION TO AMEND CURRENT
BAIL CONDITIONS WHICH WOULD HAVE PREVENTED TSVANGIRAI FROM
SPEAKING IN PUBLIC. HE REFUSED, HOWEVER, TO ENTERTAIN THE
DEFENSE'S APPLICATION FOR BAIL ON THE NEW CHARGES SAYING THAT
THE MAGISTRATES COURT HAS JURISDICTION IN SUCH MATTERS UNLESS
THERE IS CONCURRENCE WITH THE ATTORNEY GENERAL'S OFFICE. THE
DEFENSE AND THE A.G. REACHED AGREEMENT ON THIS ISSUE AND BAIL
WILL BE CONSIDERED TOMORROW MORNING BY THE HIGH COURT JUDGE
ON DUTY.
MUGABE CLAIMS VICTORY, WARNS OUTSIDERS ABOUT INTERFERING
——————————————— ———–
¶5. (SBU) BY LAST WEEK'S END, PRESIDENT MUGABE WAS CLEARLY
FEELING THAT HE HAD COME OUT AHEAD. AT A RALLY IN THE
COUNTRYSIDE ON FRIDAY, JUNE 6, HE JOKED WITH AN AUDIENCE OF
SUPPORTERS ABOUT THE MDC AND WAS SCORNFUL OF TSVANGIRAI'S
ASPIRATIONS TO THE PRESIDENCY. ACCORDING TO THE GOVERNMENT
OWNED HERALD, HE WAS QUOTED AS LIKENING THE MDC LEADER TO A
MAN REJECTED BY A WOMEN WHO NONETHELESS CONTINUES TO PURSUE
HER. ON SATURDAY AT THE FUNERAL OF MAMA MAFUYANE, WIDOW OF
THE LATE VICE-PRESIDENT JOSHUA NKOMO, THE PRESIDENT TOOK THIS
RATHER INAPPROPRIATE OPPORTUNITY TO TELL THE BRITISH AND US
EMBASSIES TO STOP HELPING THE MDC ACHIEVE AN ILLEGAL
OBJECTIVE AND TO WARN THAT "THEIR INSTIGATION CANNOT BE
TOLERATED FOREVER BY MY GOVERNMENT." A THOUSAND OR SO
ZANU-PF SUPPORTERS IN THEIR BRAND NEW "NO TO MASS ACTION"
T-SHIRTS APPLAUDED ENTHUSIASTICALLY.
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