Zimbabwe -- Swoop on banks, lawyers

PRESIDENT Robert Mugabe has sanctioned full-scale investigation into the operations of the Law Society of Zimbabwe (LSZ) in a fresh assault on pro- democracy groups in the country, it was established this week.

The probe, spearheaded by the police and the dreaded spy Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), follows the arrest two weeks ago of the law society’s leaders, who were hauled before the courts and accused of seeking to overthrow the government.

LSZ president Stern-ford Moyo and secretary Wilbert Mapombere, who both deny the charge, are out on bail.

They say letters they are said to have written to the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and Britain’s High Commisioner in Harare Brian Donnelly allegedly plotting Mugabe’s overthrow are fake.

According to official sources this week, the CIO is playing a leading role in probing the activities of the law society and legal practitioners and firms which have been handling business for the MDC.

Mugabe has sanctioned the probe, which the counter-intelligence unit of the CIO is masterminding.

Police last Thursday filed an application in the High Court seeking an order against 11 financial institutions trading in Zimbabwe to produce all records and documents pertaining to their deposits, release and investment of various sums of money in respect of the LSZ.

The police especially want deposit slips, withdrawal slips, cheque leaves, bank and cash transfer slips and full monthly statements for the period January 1 2002 to June 17 2002.

The institutions involved are Barclays Bank of Zimbabwe Limited, Standard Chartered Bank, Stanbic, the Discount Company of Zimbabwe Limited, African Banking Corporation, Fincor Finance, Kingdom Merchant Bank, Scotfin Limited, udc Limited, Trust Bank Limited and the Zimbabwe Development Bank.

Two weeks ago, the police also seized all administrative records and books of accounts of the LSZ, an independent association of lawyers who promote self-regulation in the legal profession.

Besides the probe, the government wants to amend the Legal Practitioners Act and make it operate under a council reporting to the Minister of Justice, Legal and Parliamentary Affairs.

The action would force the LSZ to be run along the same lines as the Media Commission, which was set up three weeks ago under the harsh Access to Information and Protection of Privacy Act to oversee and regulate the operations of journalists in Zimbabwe.

The crackdown on the lawyers follows a similar clamp on journalists, MDC activists and anyone perceived to be anti-government as long- simmering tensions, fuelled by an economic and political crisis, rise in Zimbabwe.

The government has been particularly jittery after the MDC announced its intention to stage mass action to force a rerun of the March presidential election, won controversially by Mugabe but condemned by much of the world.

The police and the army have been placed on high alert as emotions threaten to boil. A taxi driver who failed to stop at a road block in Harare more than a week ago was shot dead by police.

LSZ’s Moyo, in an affidavit filed in the High Court in connection with the alleged plot to oust Mugabe, said the government crackdown on the association was aimed at destroying the independence of Zimbabwe’s legal profession and kill human rights.

"On several occasions, ministers and ruling party legislators have threatened to end our collective freedom of expression as a profession," he noted.

"I see the frivolous, wicked and vexatious proceedings against me as a prelude to the denial of the legal profession of the legal profession’s collective freedom of expression. It is most unfortunate that the legal process and the police are being abused in this manner," Moyo said.

Mapombere, also in an affidavit, stated: "I also wish to state from the outset that it is my conviction that the basis of the alleged charges against us is undoubtedly the work of a psychopath who is using state machinery to destroy the LSZ and ourselves personally.

"The crude letters that form the basis of the charges are patently and demonstrably fake."

The government accuses the MDC and Britain of funding the law society to overthrow Mugabe, a charge rejected by both.

The law society has had frequent verbal battles with the government, with Moyo earlier this year harshly attacking what he said was Mugabe’s attempt to stuff the country’s judiciary with pro-ruling ZANU PF nominees.

To: *AfricaWatch; Cincinatus' Wife; sarcasm; Travis McGee; Byron_the_Aussie; robnoel; GeronL; ZOOKER; ..

You know it's a messed up world when the lawyers are the good guys.

What kind of revolution is going on in Zim? Is it a form of Marxism, or perhaps a return to tribalism?

Is it a form of Marxism, or perhaps a return to tribalism?

This is straight from the Socialist Textbook. Control the Military, use that to control the legislature and exutive branches. Then use those powers to control the media, lawyers and financial institutions.

AfricaWatch:

AfricaWatch: for AfricaWatch articles.

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" ... Then use those powers to control the media, lawyers and financial institutions."
And let us not forget using starvation as a political weapon.

And let us not forget using starvation as a political weapon.

They always use that one don't they? Just starve people into submission.

I loathe these people.

a.cricket

Of course. Starvation, fear, poverty...the works. All in the name of racism.

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