Four accused of plotting rebellion

Press, 10 March 1982, Page 9

Four accused of plotting rebellion

NZPA Bulawayo Four white Zimbabweans went on trial for treason and sabotage yesterday, accused of plotting a violent rebellion against the Prime Minister (Mr Robert Mugabe). The four men all face death sentences on each of the two charges in Zimbabwe’s first treason trial since independence nearly two years ago. Frank Bertrand, aged 58, his son, Stephen, Victor Radmore, and Allen Cauvin, aged 21, denied the charges. The four men were detained under emergency powers for 112 days. The prosecutor (Mr lan Danovan), outlined his case before a white judge, Anthony Gubbay, charged the men with plotting to destroy bridges, rail lines, and other strategic installations in a bid to force seccession of the western province of Matabeleland.

The area is the home of the minority Matabele tribe, which supported the Zimbabwe African People’s Union under Joshua Nkomo. Mr Nkomo was ousted last month from the Cabinet after Mr Mugabe accused him of disloyalty. About 20 people have been sentenced to death since independence, but Mr Mugabe has commuted all the sentences to life imprisonment. The trial comes a month after huge arms caches, said to be enough to equip a brigade of 5000 soldiers, were unearthed on farms owned by Mr Nkomo and other Z.A.P.U. leaders in Matabeleland. The prosecutor alleged that part of the plan by the four on trial included the recruiting of a spirit medium, Princess Violet Khumalo, to induce soldiers loyal to Mr Nkomo to rebel.