Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06HARARE666
2006-06-05 17:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
BENNETT'S LAWYER ON ASYLUM CASE
VZCZCXRO8141 PP RUEHMR DE RUEHSB #0666 1561714 ZNY CCCCC ZZH P 051714Z JUN 06 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC PRIORITY 0165 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 1225 RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 1061 RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1231 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0489 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0855 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 1282 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 3654 RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 1054 RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 1693 RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC//DHO-7// RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1440 RUCPDOC/DEPT OF COMMERCE WASHDC RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK//DOOC/ECMO/CC/DAO/DOB/DOI// RUEPGBA/CDR USEUCOM INTEL VAIHINGEN GE//ECJ23-CH/ECJ5M//
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000666
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR B. NEULING
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVILLE
AFR/SA FOR E. LOKEN
COMMERCE FOR BECKY ERKUL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2011
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ZI
SUBJECT: BENNETT'S LAWYER ON ASYLUM CASE
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Eric T. Schultz under Section 1
.4 b/d
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000666
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR B. NEULING
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVILLE
AFR/SA FOR E. LOKEN
COMMERCE FOR BECKY ERKUL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2011
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ZI
SUBJECT: BENNETT'S LAWYER ON ASYLUM CASE
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Eric T. Schultz under Section 1
.4 b/d
1. (C) Arnold Tsunga, the attorney for MDC Treasurer Roy
Bennett, on May 31 told the CDA that Bennett had appealed the
South African Department of Home Affairs' recent rejection of
Bennett's asylum application. (Embassy has forwarded the
original application and judgment to AF/S.) However, Tsunga
noted that the appeal was likely to be adjudicated by
another organ within the Home Affairs Department and was
therefore likely to also be rejected. He asserted that
politics would not permit the Home Affairs Department, which
had close ties with its Zimbabwean counterpart, to slap the
GOZ by ruling in Bennett's favor.
2. (C) Tsunga said that after the appeal to the Home Affair
Department had run its course, he would appeal the rejected
claim in South African courts. He maintained that the SAG
could not afford the substantial risk that the court would
rule in Bennett's favor, an outcome Tsunga considered likely.
Accordingly, he expected the SAG to quietly agree to some
arrangement permitting Bennett to remain in South Africa
before the court ruled.
3. (C) Comment: Enormously popular with Zimbabweans at home
and abroad, Bennett will continue to be a thorn in the GOZ's
side, especially if he is able to establish himself in South
Africa and help organize the Zimbabwean diaspora there as a
source of political and financial support.
SCHULTZ
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR B. NEULING
NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVILLE
AFR/SA FOR E. LOKEN
COMMERCE FOR BECKY ERKUL
E.O. 12958: DECL: 12/31/2011
TAGS: PGOV PREL PHUM ZI
SUBJECT: BENNETT'S LAWYER ON ASYLUM CASE
Classified By: Charge d'Affaires, a.i., Eric T. Schultz under Section 1
.4 b/d
1. (C) Arnold Tsunga, the attorney for MDC Treasurer Roy
Bennett, on May 31 told the CDA that Bennett had appealed the
South African Department of Home Affairs' recent rejection of
Bennett's asylum application. (Embassy has forwarded the
original application and judgment to AF/S.) However, Tsunga
noted that the appeal was likely to be adjudicated by
another organ within the Home Affairs Department and was
therefore likely to also be rejected. He asserted that
politics would not permit the Home Affairs Department, which
had close ties with its Zimbabwean counterpart, to slap the
GOZ by ruling in Bennett's favor.
2. (C) Tsunga said that after the appeal to the Home Affair
Department had run its course, he would appeal the rejected
claim in South African courts. He maintained that the SAG
could not afford the substantial risk that the court would
rule in Bennett's favor, an outcome Tsunga considered likely.
Accordingly, he expected the SAG to quietly agree to some
arrangement permitting Bennett to remain in South Africa
before the court ruled.
3. (C) Comment: Enormously popular with Zimbabweans at home
and abroad, Bennett will continue to be a thorn in the GOZ's
side, especially if he is able to establish himself in South
Africa and help organize the Zimbabwean diaspora there as a
source of political and financial support.
SCHULTZ