2011-01-16 Suspected constitutional infringement in Zimbabwe

The Times Live reports that a probe team has been appointed by Zimbabwe's attorney general to determine whether any of the leaked diplomatic cables are in breach of Zimbabwe's security laws.

"I am seeking a professional legal opinion from registered lawyers to see whether there is need to prosecute anyone following revelations by the Wikileaks website," Johannes Tomana, the attorney general told the state-run Sunday Mail.

"People should understand that this is a serious matter...after their recommendations, I will then decide whether there is need to open a docket against anyone.

"This is not a commission of inquiry, but a panel of experts whose recommendations will inform whether to prosecute anyone or not."

Tomana was quoted over the holidays as stating that

[T]he WikiLeaks appear to show a treasonous collusion between local Zimbabweans and the aggressive international world, particularly the United States. With immediate effect, I am going to instruct a team of practising lawyers to look into the issues that arise from the WikiLeaks.

However, he denied having made the statement and insisted that appointing an investigative team was beyond his power:

If you look at the scenarios around the appointment of commissions, it must be of national importance and it is only the president who can appoint a commission. I do not know where all this is coming from"

Tomana is currently on an EU and US blacklist for "suspected constitutional infringement bordering on conspiracy by several Zimbabweans arising from WikiLeaks reports" (Source).