Two 'mercanaries' back home in South Africa

Two South Africans convicted in Zimbabwe on minor charges in connection with an alleged plot to stage a coup in Equatorial Guinea returned to South Africa today after being released from prison.

Authorities in Zimbabwe released Pius Kanjowa and Lenatu Eselumu because they are both ill.

The men, who were among 68 people charged in Zimbabwe with plotting to overthrow the government of oil-rich Equatorial Guinea, served seven months of their 12-month sentences in Zimbabwe’s Chikurubi prison.

The coup’s alleged ringleader, Simon Mann, a British former special forces commander and mercenary, was sentenced last month to seven years in prison for trying to buy weapons from Zimbabwe’s state arms manufacturer.

Kanjow, Eselumu and the 65 other defendants were convicted of relatively minor immigration and aviation violations and received sentences of 12 to 16 months in prison.