K.G.B. aid sought, Mugabe Govt claims

Press, 9 February 1983, Page 9

K.G.B. aid sought, Mugabe Govt claims

NZPA-Reuter Harare The treason trial of seven members of Zimbabwe's opposition Zimbabwe-African People's Union Party began yesterday with allegations that a key member of its military wing had written a letter to the Soviet intelligence agency, the K.G.8.. seeking help against “subversive" American. British, and South African secret service activities.

The prosecution said that the letter had been sent to the head of the K.G.B. by Dumiso Dabengwa. aged 42, former intelligence chief of the Zimbabwe People's Revolutionary Army. Zapu's guerrilla army, in the Rhodesian bush war.

He and six others pleaded not guilty to charges of high treason linked to an accusation of preparing an armed rebellion aimed at overthrowing the Government of Zimbabwe.

The Director of Public Prosecutions. Mr Ahmed

Ebrahim, read the Moscowtrained Mr Dabengwa's allegedly treasonable letter in the Harare High Court. Mr Ebrahim quoted him as criticising Robert Mugabe's African majority Government for what he called its pro-Western policies. The letter was quoted as saying that the masses of Zimbabwe were deeply convinced that Mr Mugabe had turned out to be reactionary and pro-Western and that his policies would undermine the national interest.

Mr Dabengwa. who received military training in Moscow during the Rhodesian war preceding Zimbabwean independence in 1980. had written in his letter that the United States. Britain, and South Africa posed the greatest threat to Zimbabwe's sovereignty and independence, the prosecutor said.

The letter requested K.G.B. help to counter what Mr Dabengwa allegedly called subversive activities

against Zimbabwe by thosa. three countries' secret serj vices. But his defence saidthat it would argue the lettqf; was not treasonable. • !

The Prosecutor told th£! Court: "The basic allegation--against the accused is that they were all actively en» gaged together in preparaZ" tions to overthrow the lawfub Government by armed rebel-’ lion."

The other accused ar£* Lieutenant - Generaj' "Lookout" Masuku. aged 42sthe former deputy command; der of the Zimbabwean Army. Isaac! Nyathi. aged 46. ’ Misheck 3 ; Velaphi. aged 45. Masala Si!' banda. aged 38. Nicholas? Nkomo. aged 37. and Tshaka? Moyo. aged 32. --

Mr Ebrahim said that the; Government did not intend to; use the trial as a politician platform. He said that although the accused belonged-’ to Zapu and Zipra. neitherthe political party nor its- - wing was on trial. '