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Sixth 'spy' nabbed in Zim
04/01/2005 12:54 - (SA)
Harare - Zimbabwean authorities arrested a senior official in the National Security Ministry on Tuesday, as dramatic investigations into spying activities unfold.
His arrest brings to six the number of people arrested for spying in recent weeks.
Flamboyant Zanu-PF Member of Parliament Phillip Chiyangwa, Zimbabwe's ambassador-designate to Mozambique Godfrey Dzvairo and Zanu-PF director for external affairs Itai Marchi face spying charges after being seized by Zimbabwe's Central Intelligence Organisation.
Zanu-PF deputy director for security Kenny Karidza and former Metropolitan Bank company secretary Tendai Matambanadzo also face the same charges.
They are accused of "trading information" about Zimbabwean government activities through a spy network that was supposed to report on squabbles in the ruling Zanu-PF party, it is alleged.
'Zim needs to tighten laws'
While the case is being held secretly in a Harare magistrate's court from which the public is barred, it is understood several of the accused, who initially pleaded guilty, are now demanding to change their pleas to innocent.
If convicted, they could face up to 20 years in prison under Zimbabwe's Official Secrets Act, a law that dates back to colonial days under the Rhodesian government.
Meanwhile a source said the unnamed security official would be charged with failing to report information on the spy network.
The source said: "This is a can of worms and it really shows that we need to tighten our laws.
"For instance, this official stumbled onto the spying network and did not report the matter because he underrated the implications of the discovery."
Under Zimbabwean law, it is an offence not to report a breach of the Official Secrets Act.
It has not yet emerged which foreign power the six were allegedly spying for, though they were allegedly paid in foreign currency.
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