Date: 27 July, 2004

Most of the 70 Angolans, Namibians and South Africans charged by Zimbabwe with being mercenaries and plotting a coup in Equatorial Guinea, pleaded guilty yesterday to lesser charges, according to Reuters, although all of them still face more serious charges. A magistrate found 67 of the men guilty after they pleaded guilty on charges of violating Zimbabwe's immigration and civil aviation laws by landing in Harare in March.  Their sentences could range from a fine to years in jail.  The three other men, including suspected leader Simon Mann, had been already in Zimbabwe and did not face the same charges. "The 70 will face two other serious charges tomorrow ... they are going to plead not guilty to all the charges and we are going to be arguing our case," the group's attorney, Jonathan Samkange, said yesterday.

These charges included attempting to possess dangerous weapons and attempting to purchase weapons of war, and could result in sentences of up to 15 years in jail. Zimbabwean authorities said the group landed in Harare earlier this year en route to oust oil-rich Equatorial Guinean President Teodoro Obiang Nguema Mbasogo. A separate group of accused mercenaries was being held in Equatorial Guinea and was expected to face trial on similar charges soon. Families of the accused 70 have expressed concern about the possibility of the men being tried in Equatorial Guinea, where show trials and the death penalty are common, according to human rights journalist Chris Chinaka.

Sources:

(2005). The financier, the plotter and the mercenary, The Star, 14 January, p. 13.

http://mostlyafrica.blogspot.com/2004/07/zimbabwe-67-mercenaries-plead-guilty.html