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Voice of America
March 4 2005
Zimbabwe to Free More Than 60 South African Mercenaries
By Peta Thornycroft
Harare
04 March 2005
A lawyer for more than 60 suspected South African mercenaries jailed
in Zimbabwe for their involvement in a coup plot in oil-rich
Equatorial Guinea says they may return to South Africa on Saturday.
The year long saga of a suspected coup plot in Equatorial Guinea is
drawing to a close as a group of South Africans' prison sentences are
reduced by four months following an appeal to the country's second
highest court.
Back home in South Africa, they face charges under the country's
anti-mercenary legislation. But lawyers say they are likely to
negotiate a plea bargain and be instantly released.
According to South Africa and Equatorial Guinea, the men had planned
to fly to Malabo, overthrow the government and install an exiled
opposition leader.
Among the alleged plotters was British businessman Mark Thatcher, son
of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. He was accused of
partially financing the alleged plot and was recently fined $500,000
by a South African court for violating its anti-mercenary laws.
The group's alleged ringleader, former British army officer Simon
Mann still has four years of his sentence to serve in Zimbabwe's
maximum security prison on the outskirts of Harare.
His lawyer Jonathan Samkange has hinted he might get a presidential
pardon around the time local elections are held at the end of the
month. South African and Equatorial Guinean prosecutors want to try
him for the alleged coup attempt.
In Equatorial Guinea, a more than a dozen South Africans and
Armenians are serving long prison sentences for their role in the
alleged plot.
The men detained in Harare had flown in from South Africa to collect
weapons bought from the Zimbabwe government's defense industries.
South African intelligence operatives had tipped off Zimbabwean
security forces who arrested the men. They claimed they were on their
way to guard a mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The men were tried and pled guilty to relatively minor immigration
and firearms charges. The state had no evidence to connect them to
the alleged plot in Equatorial Guinea. Zimbabwe has no legislation to
prevent mercenary activities.
Attorney Alwyn Griebenow, who represents the men in Harare waiting to
be released, says they could be home on Saturday.
He says he is not sure why they have not already been released
because all the documentation is complete. He also said he is not
sure if they are sent to the airport Saturday whether there will be
any seats available on a flight to Johannesburg.
March 4 2005
Zimbabwe to Free More Than 60 South African Mercenaries
By Peta Thornycroft
Harare
04 March 2005
A lawyer for more than 60 suspected South African mercenaries jailed
in Zimbabwe for their involvement in a coup plot in oil-rich
Equatorial Guinea says they may return to South Africa on Saturday.
The year long saga of a suspected coup plot in Equatorial Guinea is
drawing to a close as a group of South Africans' prison sentences are
reduced by four months following an appeal to the country's second
highest court.
Back home in South Africa, they face charges under the country's
anti-mercenary legislation. But lawyers say they are likely to
negotiate a plea bargain and be instantly released.
According to South Africa and Equatorial Guinea, the men had planned
to fly to Malabo, overthrow the government and install an exiled
opposition leader.
Among the alleged plotters was British businessman Mark Thatcher, son
of former British Prime Minister Margaret Thatcher. He was accused of
partially financing the alleged plot and was recently fined $500,000
by a South African court for violating its anti-mercenary laws.
The group's alleged ringleader, former British army officer Simon
Mann still has four years of his sentence to serve in Zimbabwe's
maximum security prison on the outskirts of Harare.
His lawyer Jonathan Samkange has hinted he might get a presidential
pardon around the time local elections are held at the end of the
month. South African and Equatorial Guinean prosecutors want to try
him for the alleged coup attempt.
In Equatorial Guinea, a more than a dozen South Africans and
Armenians are serving long prison sentences for their role in the
alleged plot.
The men detained in Harare had flown in from South Africa to collect
weapons bought from the Zimbabwe government's defense industries.
South African intelligence operatives had tipped off Zimbabwean
security forces who arrested the men. They claimed they were on their
way to guard a mine in the Democratic Republic of Congo.
The men were tried and pled guilty to relatively minor immigration
and firearms charges. The state had no evidence to connect them to
the alleged plot in Equatorial Guinea. Zimbabwe has no legislation to
prevent mercenary activities.
Attorney Alwyn Griebenow, who represents the men in Harare waiting to
be released, says they could be home on Saturday.
He says he is not sure why they have not already been released
because all the documentation is complete. He also said he is not
sure if they are sent to the airport Saturday whether there will be
any seats available on a flight to Johannesburg.