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| author/source:SW Radio Africa |
| published:Fri 8-Jun-2007 |
| posted on this site:Sat 9-Jun-2007 |
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| Article Type : News |
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By Tichaona Sibanda
It is reported that Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramayi on Thursday confirmed that a number of soldiers are being held in military detention for what he called ‘misconduct.’ This follows reports of a coup plot against Robert Mugabe. Wilf Mbanga, publisher of The Zimbabwean newspaper that carried the story, said Sekeramayi was not prepared to say anymore than that. Coincidentally Mugabe last week urged the country’s security forces to remain on high alert to thwart attempts to topple his government by the opposition and what he called his western foes. The Zimbabwean reported on what they said was the secrecy surrounding the recent arrest, court appearance and imprisonment of a group of army and police officers charged with plotting a coup. It added that the group was arrested at an office in central Harare last week, following a tip-off to the Central Intelligence Organisation and police. ‘We actually stumbled on the story when our reporter happened to be at Rotten Row magistrates court where some of these soldiers were put on trial, but the court case was held in camera,’ Mbanga said.
Another independent online paper, The Zimbabwe Times, published the names of two senior defence forces commanders who they said were ringleaders of the attempted coup plot, Air Vice-Marshal Elson Moyo from the Airforce of Zimbabwe and Major General Engelbert Rugeje, the Quartermaster General at Army Headquarters. The Zimbabwe Times also reported that another senior army officer, Colonel Ben Ncube has also been fingered in the attempted coup but his whereabouts were still unknown as of Thursday. Citing a source still in the army they also say 360 junior soldiers have been placed under arrest as investigations spread. We have been unable to get any sources of our own to confirm these details.
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