Identifier
Created
Classification
Origin
09HARARE332
2009-04-21 13:22:00
UNCLASSIFIED//FOR OFFICIAL USE ONLY
Embassy Harare
Cable title:
LAST 3 ABDUCTEES RELEASED, AGAINST GOZ WISHES
how-toVZCZCXRO5123 OO RUEHBZ RUEHDU RUEHMR RUEHRN DE RUEHSB #0332 1111322 ZNR UUUUU ZZH O 211322Z APR 09 FM AMEMBASSY HARARE TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC IMMEDIATE 4405 INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AF DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY COLLECTIVE RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 2786 RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 2906 RUEHRL/AMEMBASSY BERLIN 1351 RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 2171 RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 2536 RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 2954 RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 5395 RUEAIIA/CIA WASHDC RUZEJAA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK RHMFISS/EUCOM POLAD VAIHINGEN GE RHEFDIA/DIA WASHDC RUEHGV/USMISSION GENEVA 2080 RHEHAAA/NSC WASHDC
UNCLAS HARARE 000332
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR B. WALCH
DRL FOR N. WILETT
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR MICHELLE GAVIN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KDEM PGOV PREL ASEC ZI
SUBJECT: LAST 3 ABDUCTEES RELEASED, AGAINST GOZ WISHES
REF: A. HARARE 29
B. HARARE 18
C. 08 HARARE 1121
D. 08 HARARE 1029
UNCLAS HARARE 000332
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR B. WALCH
DRL FOR N. WILETT
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR MICHELLE GAVIN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KDEM PGOV PREL ASEC ZI
SUBJECT: LAST 3 ABDUCTEES RELEASED, AGAINST GOZ WISHES
REF: A. HARARE 29
B. HARARE 18
C. 08 HARARE 1121
D. 08 HARARE 1029
1. (U) On Friday April 17, journalist Andrisson Shadreck
Manyere, Tsvangirai advisor Gandhi Mudzingwa, and Chris
(Kisimu) Dhlamini were released on US$1,000 bail. The three
men were abducted between October and December 2008 and are
charged, along with four others, of bombing several Zimbabwe
police stations in 2008. On April 9, High Court Justice
Charles Hungwe granted the men bail, but the State blocked
their release by notifying the Judge they intended to appeal.
Since the State failed to file the actual appeal within
seven days, the men were released on bail on April 17.
2. (U) Approximately 29 others were reported abducted between
October and December; seven are believed to still be missing
(reftels). No one is sure where they are -- they may be
dead, in State custody, or in hiding in South Africa or
elsewhere. All political detainees whose whereabouts were
known have now been released.
3. (U) Trial dates have been set for some the other
abductees, who are divided into three trials:
-- June 8: Some of those accused of recruiting insurgents:
Fidelis Chiramba, Concilia Chinanzvavana, Emmanuel
Chinanzvavana, Pieta Kaseke, Violet Mupfuranhehwe, and Collen
Mutemagau
-- June 29: The "bombers": Chris Dhlamini, Gandhi Mudzingwa,
Andrisson Manyere, Zachariah Nkomo, Regis Mujeyi, and Mapfumo
Garutsa
-- July 20: The remaining recruiters: Jestina Mukoko,
Broderick Takawira, and Audrey Zimbudzana
4. (SBU) COMMENT: While new incidents of politically
motivated arrests and abductions have declined sharply, these
ongoing cases demonstrate that the office of Attorney General
Johannes Tomana is not turning a new page. The ongoing
mystery of the whereabouts of the other seven MDC activists
reported abducted over four months ago has steadily fallen
from public view. We are grateful that all of the abductees
confirmed in State custody have finally been released -- even
if it comes as a result of a technicality -- but remain
concerned that they continue to face these serious, trumped
up charges that Tomana shows no sign of dropping. END
COMMENT.
MCGEE
SENSITIVE
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR B. WALCH
DRL FOR N. WILETT
ADDIS ABABA FOR USAU
ADDIS ABABA FOR ACSS
STATE PASS TO NSC FOR SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR MICHELLE GAVIN
E.O. 12958: N/A
TAGS: PHUM KDEM PGOV PREL ASEC ZI
SUBJECT: LAST 3 ABDUCTEES RELEASED, AGAINST GOZ WISHES
REF: A. HARARE 29
B. HARARE 18
C. 08 HARARE 1121
D. 08 HARARE 1029
1. (U) On Friday April 17, journalist Andrisson Shadreck
Manyere, Tsvangirai advisor Gandhi Mudzingwa, and Chris
(Kisimu) Dhlamini were released on US$1,000 bail. The three
men were abducted between October and December 2008 and are
charged, along with four others, of bombing several Zimbabwe
police stations in 2008. On April 9, High Court Justice
Charles Hungwe granted the men bail, but the State blocked
their release by notifying the Judge they intended to appeal.
Since the State failed to file the actual appeal within
seven days, the men were released on bail on April 17.
2. (U) Approximately 29 others were reported abducted between
October and December; seven are believed to still be missing
(reftels). No one is sure where they are -- they may be
dead, in State custody, or in hiding in South Africa or
elsewhere. All political detainees whose whereabouts were
known have now been released.
3. (U) Trial dates have been set for some the other
abductees, who are divided into three trials:
-- June 8: Some of those accused of recruiting insurgents:
Fidelis Chiramba, Concilia Chinanzvavana, Emmanuel
Chinanzvavana, Pieta Kaseke, Violet Mupfuranhehwe, and Collen
Mutemagau
-- June 29: The "bombers": Chris Dhlamini, Gandhi Mudzingwa,
Andrisson Manyere, Zachariah Nkomo, Regis Mujeyi, and Mapfumo
Garutsa
-- July 20: The remaining recruiters: Jestina Mukoko,
Broderick Takawira, and Audrey Zimbudzana
4. (SBU) COMMENT: While new incidents of politically
motivated arrests and abductions have declined sharply, these
ongoing cases demonstrate that the office of Attorney General
Johannes Tomana is not turning a new page. The ongoing
mystery of the whereabouts of the other seven MDC activists
reported abducted over four months ago has steadily fallen
from public view. We are grateful that all of the abductees
confirmed in State custody have finally been released -- even
if it comes as a result of a technicality -- but remain
concerned that they continue to face these serious, trumped
up charges that Tomana shows no sign of dropping. END
COMMENT.
MCGEE