US Ambassador detained for walking near Mugabe’s residence

By Tichaona Sibanda
14 October 2005

United States Ambassador to Zimbabwe Christopher Dell was on Monday briefly detained after he inadvertently entered a security zone near Robert Mugabe’s residence in Harare.

State media reported on Friday that Ambassador Dell walked into a restricted zone at the National Botanic Gardens near Zimbabwe House, Mugabe’s official residence.

A United States embassy official in Harare told us Ambassador Dell was out of the country and would only be back in the office next week Monday.

A security expert, who spoke to us on condition of anonymity, said the area that Ambassador Dell ‘strayed’ into is a militarised zone that is heavily guarded by the army’s artillery regiment.

The government reported that Ambassador Dell ignored ‘no entry’ signs when he entered the restricted area, but a BBC report said the area is poorly marked.

The expert said air-defence personnel with anti-aircraft artillery are positioned at the highest point of the Botanic gardens to protect Zimbabwe House, State House, the nearby Zimbabwe National Army and the Airforce of Zimbabwe Headquarters from air attacks.

A tank that supplies the same area with water is also situated within the confines of the Botanic Gardens and is protected from possible sabotage.

‘Being the Ambassador of a country with a strong dislike for Mugabe, authorities were unnerved with his presence there. They could have interpreted it as someone on a reconnaissance mission,’ said the security expert.