War vets boss to appear in court

Harare Bureau
ZIMBABWE National Liberation War Veterans Association secretary for information and publicity, Mr Douglas Mahiya, who was arrested on Wednesday afternoon, is likely to appear in court today.

Sources yesterday said Mr Mahiya was assisting police with investigations and charges had been laid against him.

In an interview, Mr Charles Nyika of Nyika Kanengoni and Partners, who initially represented Mr Mahiya, confirmed the developments yesterday.

“All I am aware of, as of now, is that they have charged him and I’m not sure of the charges yet,” he said.

There were also reports that the association’s secretary general Victor Matemadanda had been arrested yesterday in connection with the same case but a source close to the investigations dismissed the allegations.

According to the reports, Matemadanda was said to have been picked up by police in Gokwe before being taken to Harare for further investigations.

Mr Mahiya courted controversy after he presided over a war veterans meeting that denounced President Mugabe last Thursday.

Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi said the treasonous communiqué issued after the meeting could be the work of Fifth Columnists. Government has already engaged its security apparatus to establish the origins of the communiqué and those behind its circulation.