 [11] ANEWS (1:375/48)  ANEWS 
 Msg  : #3305 [56]                                                              
 From : nyt@blythe.org                      1:343/70.10     Sat 02 Apr 94 09:32 
 To   : All                                                                     
 Subj : Zambia: IMF Show Trial a Failure                                        

From: nyt@blythe.org (NY Transfer News)
Date: Sat, 2 Apr 1994 12:32:58 -0500 (EST)

Forwarded message:
From africa.news Sat Apr  2 01:07:05 1994
Path: nyxfer!cdp!newsdesk
From: newsdesk@igc.apc.org (George Gundrey - IGC News Desk)
Newsgroups: africa.news
Subject: IPS: ZAMBIA-DRUGS: FORMER MINISTERS
Message-ID: <1921801290@cdp>
Date: 1 Apr 94 22:34:00 GMT
Sender: Notesfile to Usenet Gateway <notes@igc.apc.org>
Lines: 83
X-APC-HostID: 1


       Copyright 1994 InterPress Service, all rights reserved.
          Worldwide distribution via the APC networks.

                      *** 29-Mar-94 ***

~Title: ZAMBIA-DRUGS: FORMER MINISTERS ACQUITTED OF TRAFFICKING

LUSAKA, MAR 29 (IPS) - TWO FORMER CABINET MINISTERS WERE TUESDAY
ACQUITTED OF DRUG-RELATED CHARGES BY A ZAMBIAN COURT HERE.

HUNDREDS OF SYMPATHISERS ERUPTED INTO JOYOUS CELEBRATION AFTER
FORMER COMMUNITY DEVELOPMENT MINISTER PRINCESS NAKATINDI WINA, AND
HER HUSBAND, FORMER DEPUTY SPEAKER SIKOTA WINA, WERE FOUND WITH NO
CASE TO ANSWER.

THE COURT RULED THAT THE COUPLE, CHARGED WITH WITHHOLDING
INFORMATION FROM THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION -- AN OFFENCE
PUNISHABLE BY UP TO 10 YEARS IMPRISONMENT UNDER THE REVISED DRUG
LAWS -- HAD A CONSTITUTIONAL RIGHT TO WITHHOLD INFORMATION THAT
COULD PROVE INCRIMINATING TO THEM.

THE COUPLE REFUSED TO DISCLOSE HOW THEY OBTAINED A TRANSCRIPT
OF A TOP SECRET MESSAGE FROM THE DRUG ENFORCEMENT COMMISSION TO
SOUTH AFRICA'S NARCOTICS BUREAU.

THE MESSAGE GAVE DETAILS OF A CONSIGNMENT OF DRUGS THE WINAS
WERE ALLEGEDLY EXPECTING FROM SOUTH AFRICA DESTINED FOR DUBAI.

DESPITE THE ACQUITTAL, THE WINAS EMERGED FROM THE COURTROOM
MORE STIGMATISED THAN WHEN THEY WENT IN, THANKS TO THE EVIDENCE OF
KEY WITNESSES AT THE TRIAL.

EVIDENCE PROVIDED BY, AMONG OTHERS, DRUG COMMISSION CHIEF
RAPHAEL MUNGOLE AND HIS SOUTH AFRICAN COUNTERPART, CORNELIUS
VENTOR, REVEALED THAT THE COUPLE HAD BEEN UNDER A DRUG TRAFFICKING
PROBE FOR SEVERAL YEARS.

INVESTIGATIONS INTO THEIR AFFAIRS MADE A GIANT STEP THREE
MONTHS AGO, WHEN STUTH AFRICA'S NARCOTICS BUREAU BUGGED THE WINAS'
ROOM WHEN THEY STAYED AT A HOTEL IN WINDHOEK, NAMIBIA.

ACCORDING TO VENTOR, INVESTIGATIONS INTO THEIR ALLEGED
INVOLVEMENT IN DRUGS ARE STILL CONTINUUNG.

THE COUPLE RESIGNED FROM PUBLIC OFFICE TWO MONTHS AGO FOLLOWING
INCREASED PUBLIC AND DONOR PRESSURE ON PRESIDENT FREDERICK CHILUBA
TO ARREST DRUG TRAFFICKING IN HIGH PLACES.

THEY, HOWEVER, RETAINED THEIR PARLIAMENTARY SEATS AND POSITIONS
IN THE RULING MOVEMENT FOR MULTI-PARTY (MMD)'S NATIONAL EXECUTIVE
COMMITTEE.

AS THE COURT SAT TO RULE ON THE CASE TUESDAY, RELATIVES OF THE
DEFENDANTS MANHANDLED JOURNALISTS THEY ACCUSED OF BIASED
REPORTING.

SEVERAL PEOPLE, INCLUDING A REPORTER OF 'THE POST', AN
INDEPENDENT BI-WEEKLY, HAD TO MAKE A HASTY RETREAT AS SYMPATHISERS
OF THE ACCUSEDS THREATENED PHYSICAL RETRIBUTION.

THE PAPER'S MANAGING DIRECTOR, FRED M'MEMBE, AND TWO REPORTERS
ARE BEING CHARGED WITH CONTEMPT OF COURT OVER ARTICLES IT CARRIED
BASED ON A REPORT BY A TRIBUNAL APPOINTED BY FORMER PRESIDENT
KENNETH KAUNDA TO INVESTIGATE DRUG TRAFFICKING.

THE REPORT NAMES PRINCESS NAKATINDI WINA AND HER HUSBAND SIKOTA
WINA AS KEY PLAYERS IN ZAMBIA'S GROWING DRUG TRADE.
(END/IPS/JM/GK/94)


Origin: Harare/ZAMBIA-DRUGS/
                              ----

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