Three Zimbabwean businessmen are accused of using a satellite system supplied by Juch-Tech Inc. of Hamilton, Ont., to send state secrets to Canada, the United States and Afghanistan.

They have been charged with breaching the country's Official Secrets Act, which prohibits the communication of information "calculated to be useful to an enemy."

Juch-Tech president Walt Juchniewicz says he knows nothing about the alleged espionage.

The company "feels this is very slanderous against its 25-year reputation and shocked at these unfounded allegations," Juchniewicz said in a statement to The Canadian Press. "Our intent was purely of good — not of hostility, or to harm anybody."

Juchniewicz says he simply went to Zimbabwe to provide investment company Africom Holdings with Internet service through installation of a satellite dish.

"When I visited Zimbabwe and met with executives of Africom, I was very impressed with the country and the people," he said. "We had the approval of the executives and full co-operation of Africom employees with respect to this project.

"Africom and the landlord of the property gave their permission to the location of the dish and I was assured by Africom that they had all required licensing to operate in Zimbabwe."

Oliver Chiku of Global Satellite Systems — hired by Juch-Tech to install the dish — and two Africom employees, Simba Mangwende and Farai Rwodzi, face up to 25 years in prison for allegedly breaching the secrets law. They have been granted bail by a Harare judge.

Juchniewicz says his company has carried out projects in various African countries for a dozen years without problems. Though disturbed and disappointed by the turn of events, he is reluctant to say anything further until he finds out more about the charges.

The Foreign Affairs Department said Monday it was aware of the case, adding it would be "inappropriate" to comment while the matter is before the courts in Zimbabwe.

"However, we urge the government of Zimbabwe to ensure that judicial proceedings for these and other individuals in their jurisdiction are grounded in law, free from political interference, and that the rights of the accused are fully respected," department spokeswoman Claude Rochon said in a statement.

Foreign Affairs says Canada is warily eyeing the fragile political situation in Zimbabwe, where President Robert Mugabe's party continues to control key state institutions despite a power-sharing arrangement with its former opponents. Ottawa has also expressed concern about Harare's human rights violations and failure to respect the rule of law.

A consular official with the Embassy of Zimbabwe in Ottawa did not return phone calls.

According to Zimbabwean media reports, the three men facing espionage charges are accused of using the newly installed communication system to leak confidential government ministry data "useful to an enemy" from July through late October.

At issue in the case is whether the alleged recipient countries, including Canada, are actually enemies of Zimbabwe.

Court proceedings are expected to resume next week.

By Staff reporter and agencies