Date: Sun, 29 Sep 1996 05:54:16 -0700 From: crosswix@ix.netcom.com (camille) Subject: Zimbabwe I: Attorney General Not to Prosecute Magnus Hirschfeld Centre for Human Rights William A. Courson, Executive Director Crosswicks House 551 Valley Road, Suite 169 Upper Montclair, New Jersey USA 07043 Telephone: 201-746-9516 Facsimile: 201-746-3147 E-Mail: crosswix@ix.netcom.com WWW: http://www.envirolink.org/orgs/magnuscentre 28 September 1996 Dear Friends & Colleagues: The following correspondence was received today from the Attorney-General of Zimababwe, in connection with the actions and statements of one Herbert Ushewokunze, a public prosecutor in that country, relating to the recent Zimbabwe International Book Fair. Our original correspondence with the Attoreny-General is posted herewith as an attachment for your interest. Kindest regards, Bill Courson ----------------------------------------------------------------------- OFFICE OF THE ATTORNEY-GENERAL PRIVATE BAG 7714 CAUSEWAY, ZIMBABWE Telegrams: "YULELOGS" Telephone: 703353/4/5/6/7 6 September 1996 Dear Mr. Courson: I refer to your letter dated 9th August 1996 in which you ask me to take action on the basis of a newspaper report. Please be advised that in order for me to ascertain whether a misconduct was committed and of what nature, I need an eyewitness statement of what Mr. Herbert Ushewokunze, Jr., is alleged to have done. On the face of it, I cannot see any impropriety of participating in a public demonstration against either the decision of the High Court or the participation of GALZ in the Book Fair. Under our Constitution, citizens have a right to hold public demonstrations in support of or against views they do not share. I am sure that similar rights are guaranteed to citizens in the United States of America. The Hon. P.A. Chinamasa, M.P. Attorney-General PAC/im --xmannbiddkvxorjqmmaocicxnllovh Content-Type:text/plain; charset=US-ASCII; name="zimatty2.txt" THE MAGNUS HIRSCHFELD CENTRE FOR HUMAN RIGHTS C/O CROSSWICKS HOUSE POST OFFICE BOX 1974 BLOOMFIELD, NEW JERSEY U.S.A. 07003-1974 TELEPHONE: (201) 746-9516 E-MAIL: CROSSWIX@IX.NETCOM.COM FACSIMILE: (201) 746-3147 August 9, 1996 The Hon. Patrick Chinamasa, Esq. The Attorney General Central House, 4th Floor, 3 Central Avenue Harare, Zimbabwe RE: Events of 25 July to August 3, 1996 in connection with Zimbabwe International Book Fair Dear Attorney General Chinamasa: Kindly reference the above-captioned matter. It has been brought to our attention in connection with the above that on or about 2 August 1996, one Mr. Herbert Ushewokunze, Junior, a public prosecutor in your office was quoted in the press as stating, in connection with the decision by the High Cour t allowing the participation by GALZ (the Gay & Lesbian Association of Zimbabwe) in the foregoing Book Fair, that he "did not care what the decision of the High Court was; this [referring to a public demonstration in which he was a participant] is a 'Cou rt of the people.'" My understanding is that the utterance of the foregoing may represent a crime (or several crimes) under the criminal laws of Zimbabwe; additionally, it is my understanding that Mr. Ushewokunze's statement could subject him to professional disciplinary pro ceedings by the local Bar. I would be very grateful if you could kindly apprise me as to whether a criminal action has been initiated against Mr. Ushewokunze or whether professional disicplinary proceedings have been undertaken, of if such action is or such proceedings are to be in itiated in the future. Allow me to thank you in anticipation of any information you may be able to provide. Yours faithfully, William A. Courson Executive Director HIRSCHFELD CENTRE cc: Mr. Herbert Ushewokunze, Jr., Esq. GALZ Committee --xmannbiddkvxorjqmmaocicxnllovh--