The Times online (1/3/2008) — 03/02/2008
ZUMA TRIES TO BLOCK PROSECUTION EVIDENCE
Paddy Harper
Court application in Mauritius to block release of arms deal documents
African National Congress president Jacob Zuma has come out with guns blazing in affidavits submitted to court, stopping short of accusing President Thabo Mbeki of lying and conspiring to prevent him from becoming the country’s next President. Zuma claims he is being targeted by forces in the ANC and government because of his 'pro-poor' political beliefs in a bid to prevent him from becoming President of the country. These allegations are contained in Zuma's affidavits lodged before the Supreme Court of Mauritius. They form part of his bid to stop the Mauritian authorities from releasing documents in their possession for use [by the prosecution] in Zuma's new corruption and fraud trial, which begins in August, including a now-infamous encrypted fax. 'Certain individuals deployed in established institutions both inside and outside the ANC are strongly opposed to my stewardship of the ANC and the country,' Zuma said.
 
Zuma's allegation of a conspiracy to prosecute him
Turning to the decision to charge him in 2005, Zuma said 'the President and the National Prosecuting Authority allege that they arrived at their respective decisions independently of each other and without having consulted each other on the matter. Needless to say, I have difficulty in believing this to be the truth'. As he takes the fight directly to Mbeki in his renewed bid to stay out of jail, Zuma also makes another startling allegation that former Scorpions boss Vusi Pikoli had been suspended for commissioning the controversial so-called Special Browse Report, which, Zuma said, 'investigated my interaction with African leaders and whether I posed any threat to the security of the state’. Zuma's application has been opposed by the Mauritian Attorney-General, Rama Valayden, who formally objected to it. The matter resumes next week.