From IOL
Zimbabwean armament officials have been arrested in secret for collaboration with the band of alleged mercenaries being held in Harare.
The officials agreed to sell arms to the men in a bid to get access to scarce foreign currency and boost Zimbabwe's arms parastatal's business, security sources have revealed.
A Zimbabwean criminal investigation official has confirmed that three Zimbabwean Defence Industries (ZDI) officials have been held secretly here over their involvement with the deal with the "mercenaries".
While the group of 70, made up mostly of South Africans, appeared in a makeshift court in Chikurubi Maximum Prison this week, there was no word or sign of ZDI officials. The state has charged the alleged mercenaries with buying arms from ZDI and having made an initial payout of $90 000 (about R630 000) as an upfront transaction for the balance of $180 000 for armaments.
The investigating officer refused to disclose the progress and details of charges brought against ZDI officials who were involved in the deal.
The deal involved buying arms that included 61 AK-47 assault rifles, 45 000 rounds of ammunition, 100 rocket propelled grenade launchers and 20 light machine guns.
A diplomatic source said the ZDI had no business in selling arms to individual private citizens. "It should be selling arms to the government and in terms of prescribed rules and laws. It's like (in South Africa) Denel cannot sell (arms) to individuals or governments that are involved in conflict.
"We are worried about ZDI's conduct that it has intended to sell arms to these individuals.
"The fact that they had met (alleged mercenary leader Simon) Mann and concluded the deal leaves much to be desired."