/ 13 March 2006

Arms cache: Zim police search for opposition MP

Zimbabwean police are still searching for former opposition MP Roy Bennett after last week’s discovery of an arms cache in Mutare, Harare’s Herald newspaper reported on Monday.

Its website quoted senior police officer Ronald Muderedzi as saying various teams had been dispatched into Manicaland province to look for Bennett.

”We are still pursuing our investigations in the matter and we have sent out teams to look for possible leads. We are only expecting them tomorrow [Monday],” Muderedzi said.

”No further arrests have been made so far except for those who were nabbed and are helping police with investigations.”

Investigations into the arms cache have led to the arrest of a number of top Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) officials and two ex-policemen and the recovery of numerous police and army uniforms and rounds of ammunition.

Several other suspects were also picked up for questioning in Mutare, including Mutare North MP Giles Mutsekwa who has already appeared before a Mutare magistrate.

They were remanded in custody to Wednesday.

All are facing charges of contravening Section 10 (1) of the Public Order and Security Act Chapter 11.17, that is conspiracy to possess weaponry for insurgency, banditry, sabotage and terrorism.

State television earlier reported a man identified as Mike Peter Hischman was arrested in connection with the find and claimed he was working for an obscure organisation called the Zimbabwe Freedom Movement.

The man named MDC members Roy Bennett and Giles Mutseyekwa as co-ordinators of the organisation. – Sapa