Zambia Deports Spies w/CIA-Freedom House Ties

from the Harare Sunday Mail

05 February 2006

Suspended MDC leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai and his eight-member team were deported from Zambia after they allegedly held a secret meeting with officials from a US-funded organisation called Freedom House headed by former CIA and FBI agents, it has emerged.

It has also emerged that the US embassy in Harare arranged the meeting, with the American team raising suspicion that the meeting could have been organised to plot ways of causing an upheaval in Zimbabwe.

Although details of the meeting are still sketchy, sources revealed yesterday that the MDC leadership was in Zambia to hold discussions with Freedom House, which claims to be a "voice for democracy and freedom around the world".

The organisation is known worldwide for aiding civil unrest in countries seen as a threat to the US policies and interests.

Said a highly placed MDC source: "I can confirm that the party delegation was in Zambia to hold discussions with this organisation (Freedom House).

"They met with these guys and the US embassy in Harare was responsible for organising the meeting and details on how the delegates were to proceed with business in Zambia."

Contacted for comment yesterday, Mr Tsvangirai's spokesperson, Mr William Bango, who was part of the deported delegation, refused to disclose the purpose of the meeting, saying:

"We don't have anything further to say about that trip to Zambia other than what is in the public domain already."

Mr Tendai Biti, who is also in Mr Tsvangirais anti-Senate camp, said he could not comment on the trip and the meeting "as I did not attend it".

Last Thursday Zambian authorities deported Mr Tsvangirai and his top lieutenants for allegedly violating that country's immigration laws.

Reports say the officials posed as tourists but later held the secret meeting with officials from Freedom House in Livingstone.

Mr Isaac Matongo, Mr Nelson Chamisa, Ms Lucia Matibenga, Ms Gertrude Mthombeni, Ms Paurina Mpariwa, Mr Bango, Ms Thokozile Khupe and Mr Eddie Cross were the other deportees.

According to reports, Mr Tsvangirai flew into Victoria Falls ahead of his colleagues on Tuesday and met a Samuel Mark Imende, who is believed to be Kenyan.

After regrouping at Zambezi Sun International Hotel in Livingstone, the MDC leaders held a marathon meeting with the Freedom House members, who were initially believed to be MDC donors.

Sources said the officials from the US-funded organisation were initially stationed in Kenya to mobilise sentiments against the Kenyan governments bid to amend that country's constitution.

The sources said Imende was present at the meeting in Zambia because he had been working hand-in-hand with the organisation during its stint in Kenya.

Research shows that Freedom Houses board of trustees is mainly composed of ex-FBI and CIA staff, former officials from recent American governments and current American intelligence.

Some members in this board are on the payroll of the infamous Carlyle Group, a multinational warfare company whose investors and beneficiaries include Mr George Bush (senior), Mr John Major and many high-profile past American government officials.

It is also understood that the leader of one of Zambia's opposition parties, Mr Anderson Mazoka of the United Party for National Development, facilitated the secret meeting.

In 2002, when Zambia held its presidential elections, Mr Mazoka prematurely claimed that he had won the elections, and before the final results were announced the European Union sent him a congratulatory message. The elections were eventually won by President Levy Mwanawasa.