At least six Movement for Democratic Change leaders, including Roy Bennett and Giles Mutsekwa, from Manicaland were arrested in connection with arms caches.
The other four were Michael Peter Hitschmann, at whose home the cache was found, MDC provincial treasurer Brian James, MDC provincial youth chairman Knowledge Nyamhuka, and MDC activist Thando Sibanda.
MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said the arrests were an attempt to disrupt the party’s congress which was due the following week.
Full cable:
Viewing cable 06HARARE303, MORE ARRESTS, SUPPOSED MDC LINKS IN ARMS SEIZURE
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Reference ID |
Created |
Released |
Classification |
Origin |
VZCZCXRO3620
RR RUEHMR
DE RUEHSB #0303 0681616
ZNY CCCCC ZZH
R 091616Z MAR 06
FM AMEMBASSY HARARE
TO RUEHC/SECSTATE WASHDC 9728
INFO RUCNSAD/SOUTHERN AFRICAN DEVELOPMENT COMMUNITY
RUEHUJA/AMEMBASSY ABUJA 1145
RUEHAR/AMEMBASSY ACCRA 0977
RUEHDS/AMEMBASSY ADDIS ABABA 1149
RUEHBY/AMEMBASSY CANBERRA 0409
RUEHDK/AMEMBASSY DAKAR 0769
RUEHKM/AMEMBASSY KAMPALA 1203
RUEHNR/AMEMBASSY NAIROBI 3547
RUEHFR/AMEMBASSY PARIS 0975
RUEHRO/AMEMBASSY ROME 1603
RUEKJCS/JOINT STAFF WASHDC
RUFGNOA/HQ USEUCOM VAIHINGEN GE
RUFOADA/JAC MOLESWORTH RAF MOLESWORTH UK
RUEKDIA/DIA WASHDC
RHEHNSC/NSC WASHDC
RUEHBS/USEU BRUSSELS
RUCNDT/USMISSION USUN NEW YORK 1360
C O N F I D E N T I A L HARARE 000303
SIPDIS
SIPDIS
AF/S FOR B. NEULING
SENIOR AFRICA DIRECTOR C. COURVILLE
E.O. 12958: DECL: 03/09/2015
SUBJECT: MORE ARRESTS, SUPPOSED MDC LINKS IN ARMS SEIZURE
REF: HARARE 297
Classified By: Ambassador Christopher Dell for reasons 1.5 b/d
¶1. (U) The GOZ-controlled Herald newspaper on March 9
reported that ten more suspects had been arrested in
connection with the March 7 discovery of arms in Mutare
(reftel). The article did not identify all of those
reportedly in custody but claimed that a number of MDC
officials had been arrested, including Mutare North MP Giles
Mutsekwa and former MP Roy Bennett. The pro-government Daily
Mirror, by contrast, buried the story on page three and the
semi-independent weekly Financial Gazette, which was
published March 9, gave prominent coverage to the statement
of MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa (of the Tsvangirai faction)
denying involvement and claiming that the arrests were an
attempt to disrupt the party,s congress, scheduled for next
week.
¶2. (C) Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights Attorney Trust
Manda confirmed to Post March 9 that he has been retained as
the attorney for the four individuals arrested March 7:
Michael Peter Hitschmann, at whose home the cache was found,
MDC provincial treasurer Brian James, MDC provincial youth
chairman Knowledge Nyamhuka, and MDC activist Thando Sibanda.
Manda said all four were being held at Mutare Central Police
Station and had been charged under a Public Order and
Security Act (POSA) section pertaining to the illegal
procession of weapons for purposes of banditry, sabotage, and
terrorism. The charges carried a potential life sentence.
¶3. (C) Manda told us that all four of his clients had given
the police statements under coercion and without a lawyer
present. He claimed that police had beaten Nyamhuka and
Sibanda with boots and closed fists, but that the others,
including Hitschmann, had not been mistreated. Hitschmann
had nonetheless given the police &a lot of information,”
which Manda said he was not at liberty to discuss. Manda
said he had successfully demanded that new statements be
taken but worried that the original statements might be used
in court against his clients.
¶4. (C) Manda said fellow lawyer Lawrence Chibwe the day
before had seen police escorting Mutsekwa to Mutare Police
Station, but that the authorities had subsequently denied
they were holding him. Post is working to ascertain
Mutsekwa,s whereabouts. Manda also reported that the police
had invited but not subpoenaed Bennett to appear and the
ex-MP remained at liberty.
——-
Comment
——-
¶5. (C) The GOZ appears intent on exploiting the arms seizure
to discredit the Tsvangirai wing of the MDC. In particular,
the government appears to want to focus on Bennett, the
widely popular and influential MDC Chairman for Manicaland,
who has backed Tsvangirai in his dispute with the pro-Senate
MDC faction.
DELL
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