Alleged plot to kill Mugabe

Grant Lee grantlee at iinet.net.au
Wed Feb 13 06:45:19 PST 2002


The usually credible SBS TV (Australia) program _Dateline_ has just run a story on an alleged plot to kill Robert Mugabe, by the Zimbabwean opposition MDC with the help of millions in finance from somewhere.

It seems like the Montreal based(?) consultancy Dickens & Madson ratted on MDC. Ari Ben-Menashe, ex-Mossad agent and author appears to have been involved as a D&M staffer.

MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai has denied all knowledge. However the _Dateline_ story contains video tape of someone alleged to be him making incriminating statements, at a meeting with M&D.

A link to a transcript of the program is at: http://www.sbs.com.au/dateline/dateline_set.html

Here's an excerpt:

"Montreal. VO Interior. Video. December 4, the offices of Dickens and Madson - a firm of political consultants with extensive experience in Africa... VO Spotlight as needed Mr X Brit Present are three staff members of Dickens and Madson... A gentleman whose identity has not been established. A British citizen and former Rhodesian who allegedly set up this meeting .....and..... Morgan Tsvangirai Ari (Subtitled) Ari: 'The MDC represented by the top man who's sitting here right now commits to let's call it whatever you want to call it, the coup d'etat or the elimination of the President." VO Ari Ben Menashe, Dickens and Madson (subtitled) Ari: Ok, Mr Mugabe is eliminated. Now what? Alex: 'Are you in a position basically to ensure a smooth transition of power?' Morgan: Yes. I've no doubt about it. VO GRAPHIC. Statement up on bed Small Pan over part of document Back to video Dickens and Madson have issued this statement. They claim that they were contracted by Tsvangarai to kill Robert Mugabe. The Montreal meeting, which they filmed, was to discuss how to install Tsvangarai into power after the assassination. They advise that they had not intention of fulfilling the contract. That they have now informed the Zimbabwean authorities of the plan and have recently been engaged by that government ..."



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