MORE ARRESTS, SUPPOSED MDC LINKS IN ARMS SEIZURE

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 TAGS: ASEC PGOV PHUM PREL ZI 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