Attorney-General Baulks At WikiLeaks Commission

Having followed the escapades of the unilaterally appointed Attorney General in the trial last year of Senator Roy Bennett, I am not that surprised that he should back away from the reports that he was to establish a commission to investigate the WikiLeaks claims.

Tomana attempted to hoodwink the court with false evidence from a ditch digger portrayed as a IT professional. In my mind, the court was way too lax on the attempt and Tomana should have been held in contempt of court, whilst the witness, even under duress, should have been done for perjury...

wikileaks TfYiz 16744

"Zimbabwean Attorney General Johannes Tomana on Wednesday distanced himself from reports he is establishing a commission to probe information revealed in US diplomatic cables from Harare to Washington that political opponents of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai have charged showed he engaged in treasonous activities.

So far the fallout from Wikileaks disclosures concerning Zimbabwe has been limited, but a more formal inquiry could create legal complications for Mr Tsvangirai, who in 2004 was acquitted of treason in an alleged plot to assassinate President Robert Mugabe.

Mr Tsvangirai is likely to challenge Mr Mugabe in the next presidential election, which depending on circumstances could be held late this year or early next.

Tomana told VOA that only the president can set up such a commission of inquiry.

The state-controlled Herald newspaper, generally considered a mouthpiece for President Mugabe's ZANU PF party, had reported that Tomana would unveil a commission of inquiry to probe Mr Tsvangirai's ties to a former US ambassador."

Typical ZANU PF - putting the cart before the horse, in forlorn hope that the threat will force Tsvangirai to back down.

"Party hardliners led by ZANU PF Chairman Simon Khaya Moyo, Foreign Affairs Minister Simbarashe Mumbengegwi, politiburo member Jonathan Moyo and Mashonaland Central Governor Martin Dinha have called for Mr Tsvangirai’s prosecution for treason for allegedly conspiring with Washington to unseat Mr Mugabe.

The ZANU PF functionaries have seized on cables published digitally by Wikileaks that showed former US Ambassador Christopher Dell envisioning regime change in Harare. "We need to keep the pressure on to keep Mugabe off his game and on his back foot, relying on his own shortcomings to do him in," the cable showed Dell writing."

The writings of a US ambassador do not prove that Tsvangirai - or anyone else - is intending to topple Mugabe by anything other than democratic means. But what of Mugabe? Almost 3 years ago, his party lost the parliamentary elections, but we don't see ZANU PF handing over the reins of power. Instead we see them using the reins to strangle the Zimbabwean people...

How come Mugabe and his party have never been had up for treason? Is their seizure of power, contrary to the popular mandate, not a coup?

"Mr Tsvangirai has dismissed what he says ZANU PF partisans calling for his resignation and prosecution over the contents of the leaked cables, characterizing them as "barbarians" who "should have their heads examined."

National Constitutional Assembly Chairman Lovemore Madhuku told reporter Blessing Zulu that only Mr Mugabe has the powers to appoint a special commission.

Madhuku said the Wikileaks information has lent credence to Mr Mugabe's often-repeated charge that Mr Tsvangirai is a servant of Western interests."

"Lending credence" does not mean that Tsvangirai is working for, or in cahoots with the West. All it means is that the intended result is the same in each case.

Robb WJ Ellis

The Bearded Man