Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
06HARARE666
2006-06-05 17:14:00
CONFIDENTIAL
Embassy Harare
Cable title:  

BENNETT'S LAWYER ON ASYLUM CASE

Tags:  PGOV PREL PHUM ZI 
pdf how-to read a cable
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