“property-tracking document” has the meaning assigned to it in the Serious Offences (Confiscation of Profits) Act [Chapter 9:17]; “serious narcotics offence” has the meaning assigned to it in the Serious Offences (Confiscation of Profits) Act [Chapter 9:17]; “serious offence” means an offence the maximum penalty for which is death or imprisonment for not less than twelve months and “criminal matter” shall be construed accordingly; “specified offence” has the meaning assigned to it in the Serious Offences (Confiscation of Profits) Act [Chapter 9:17]; “tainted property” has the meaning assigned to it in the Serious Offences (Confiscation of Profits) Act [Chapter 9:17]. (2) A reference in this Act to a law of a foreign country shall include a reference to a law of a part of, or a law in force in a part of, the foreign country. (3) For the purposes of this Act— (a) a colony, territory or protectorate of a foreign country; or (b) a territory for the international relations of which a foreign country is responsible; or (c) a ship or aircraft of, or registered in, a foreign country; shall, unless a contrary intention appears, be deemed to be part of that country. 3 Application of Act (1) Subject to subsections (2) and (3), whenever the Minister is satisfied that reciprocal provisions have been made by any foreign country to facilitate the provision to Zimbabwe of assistance in criminal matters, he may, by statutory instrument, declare that this Act shall apply in relation to any such foreign country. (2) The Minister may, by statutory instrument, direct that the application of this Act in relation to a specified foreign country shall be subject to such conditions or modifications as may be specified in the statutory instrument, and thereupon this Act shall apply accordingly. (3) This section shall not apply to Part II. 4 Aspects of mutual assistance For the purposes of this Act, mutual assistance in criminal matters shall include— (a) the obtaining of evidence, documents or other articles; (b) the provision of documents and other records; (c) the location and identification of witnesses or suspects; (d) the execution of requests for search and seizure; (e) the making of arrangements for persons to give evidence or assist in investigations; (f) the forfeiture or confiscation of property in respect of offences; (g) the recovery of pecuniary penalties in respect of offences; (h) the interdicting of dealings in property, or the freezing of assets, that may be forfeited or confiscated, or that may be needed to satisfy pecuniary penalties imposed, in respect of offences; (i) the location of property that may be forfeited, or that may be needed to satisfy pecuniary penalties imposed, in respect of offences; and (j) the service of documents. 5 Act not to prevent other provision of mutual assistance Nothing in this Act shall be construed as preventing the provision or obtaining of assistance in criminal matters otherwise than as provided in this Act. 6 Refusal of assistance (1) A request by a foreign country for assistance under this Act shall be refused if, in the opinion of the Attorney-General— (a) the request relates to the prosecution or punishment of a person for an offence that is, by reason of the circumstances in which it is alleged to have been committed or was committed, an offence of a political character; or (b) there are reasonable grounds for believing that the request has been made with a view to prosecuting or punishing a person for an offence of a political character; or (c) there are reasonable grounds for believing that the request was made for the purpose of prosecuting, punishing or otherwise causing prejudice to a person on account of the person’s race, sex, religion, nationality or political opinions; or (d) the request relates to prosecution or punishment of a person in respect of an act or omission that, if it had occurred in Zimbabwe, would have constituted an offence under the military law of Zimbabwe but not under the ordinary criminal law of Zimbabwe; or (e) the granting of the request would prejudice public safety, public order, defence or the economic interests of Zimbabwe; or