Posted on 03/09/2006 7:16:27 PM PST by blam
Mugabe police arrest 'coup plotters after arms find'
By Peta Thornycroft in Harare
(Filed: 10/03/2006)
At least 15 men have been arrested by Zimbabwean police amid allegations of a plot to launch an armed rebellion against President Robert Mugabe.
A cache of weapons was reportedly seized and those held included some senior officials of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change.
Roy Bennett: 'Wanted'
An MDC member of parliament Giles Mutsekwa, a former officer in the Zimbabwe National Army, and Brian James, the treasurer of the MDC's Manicaland province, in eastern Zimbabwe, were arrested earlier this week.
Roy Bennett, a former opposition MP, who spent six months in prison last year, has been named by police as being "wanted for questioning" in connection with the alleged plot.
Police claim they unearthed a cache of weapons in Mutare, 165 miles east of Harare, and linked the haul to a British-based group, the Zimbabwe Freedom Movement, which the authorities claim, has strong ties to the MDC.
Peter Tatchell, the human rights activist, launched the Zimbabwe Freedom Movement at a press conference in London in 2003 and said the rebels alongside him, wearing balaclavas, would oust Mr Mugabe and put him on trial.
Nothing has been heard of them since, and the MDC said then, and again this week, that it has no connection with the group.
The state-controlled Herald newspaper has recently made several extraordinary claims about the arrests, the latest being that police believed there was a plan for a tear gas attack on Mr Mugabe's 82nd birthday celebrations in Mutare on February 25.
A clutch of automatic rifles, AK47 rifles and some weapons more than 40 years old were allegedly found, along with thousands of bullets and a two-way radio system at the Mutare home of Michael Peter Hitschmann, who police said was a member of the ZFM.
Mr Hitschmann, who claimed to have served in the Rhodesian Army during the 1970s bush war, is alleged to have made a confession to police about the ZFM, its members and links. The MDC, which split into two factions last October, has denied any connection with Mr Hitschmann.
Nelson Chamisa, a spokesman for the MDC faction affected by the arrests, said: "This is a state plot to destabilise us ahead of our congress next week."
A solicitor working for Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, which is representing some of those detained in Mutare, said: "Even we don't know for sure how many are arrested, nor do we know what this is about yet.
"Maybe it will become clearer in the next few days."
After the arrests Didymus Mutasa, the security minister, told state television that government opponents risked "elimination".
He said: "If it came to a position where we have to eliminate them physically because of what they are doing, then it is their fault, that is what they are looking for, and we will not hesitate to do that."
In its founding constitution in 2000 the MDC pledged to unseat Mr Mugabe via the ballot box.
Ping.
If Zimbabwe had oil Mugabe would have been clipped years ago.
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Good news. That means people are trying. Bad news one group got caught.
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