Tanzanians convicted in Malawi 'nuclear spying' case

A Malawian court has convicted eight Tanzanian nationals in the Kayelekera uranium mine spying case. The Nyasa Times reports that the men were arrested in December for allegedly entering the closed mine without government consent. Police said they were found with a computer, camera, map of the mine ‘and other gadgets’. The state claimed the suspects were on a spying mission to find out whether the government was producing nuclear weapons to attack Tanzania should a war break over their Lake Malawi territorial dispute. Chief Magistrate Texious Masoamphambe convicted them for ‘criminal trespassing and carrying out a reconnaissance operation without a permit or licence’. Two of the suspects pleaded guilty while the others vehemently denied the charges saying they were on a study tour in Malawi.