Trial of arms cache suspect fails to take off
By Violet Gonda
26 October 2006

Mike Peter Hitschman, the man accused of plotting to assassinate Robert Mugabe appeared in court in Mutare, Thursday. But the long awaited trial failed to take off because the state prosecutor made an application to amend the charges which resulted in the case being postponed to Monday.

Hitschman’s lawyer Trust Maanda said the case started with a lot of drama. First, the defence had to file an urgent application in the courts after prison officials refused to allow the accused to wear his civilian clothes. After this request was granted by High Court Judge Alfas Chitakunye, the prosecutor Levison Chikafu made an application to amend the charge by way of adding new weapons that were allegedly found in Hitschman’s possession. The defence team then requested for more time to study this new evidence and prepare for a defence.

The ex-Rhodesian soldier was arrested in March last year after police said they found an arms cache at his home. Hitschman and eight other people, including Giles Mutsekwa the opposition MP for Mutare North and four police officers, were charged for allegedly plotting to assassinate Mugabe when he went to the mountainous city of Mutare for his birthday bash celebrations. But the charges against the others were later dropped because of lack of evidence.

The case has also exposed the extent to which the state security agency, the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), has been trying influence the outcome of the arms cache saga when they tried to pressure the Attorney General not to drop charges against Mutsekwa and the others. At that time, this resulted in two representatives from the AG's office retreating to Harare after threats by CIO agents.

Although the other co-accused were released, Hitschman remained in police custody because the state charged he still had a case to answer as the alleged arms cache was found at his property. He denies the charges.

Asked about his client’s condition Maanda said; “At some stage prior to these proceedings he was frail and ill but he recovered. He has managed to keep himself fit and okay in spite of the hurdles.”

He is being charged under the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) for possessing weapons with an intention to commit offences such as sabotage, terrorism, insurgency and banditry.