[corrected] A JOHANNESBURG helicopter pilot has been arrested in Zimbabwe shortly before he was due to transport presidential hopeful Morgan Tsvangirai on his campaign trail and is still in police custody, his employer said.
"He is at Harare central police station where he is being detained," said Wessel van den Bergh, chief executive officer of ATS aviation services.
The pilot, British citizen Brent Smythe, was due to ferry Tsvangirai to various constituencies in Zimbabwe over the next two days and was expecting to take off from an airfield north-west of the city at 7am on Tuesday, Van den Bergh said.
"He sent me an SMS just after seven saying ’please help, the police have arrested me’," Van den Bergh told Sapa.
The helicopter "worth millions" was also impounded and Van den Bergh was still trying to establish why Smythe was arrested because he believed all the paperwork was in order.
He received a later SMS from Smythe saying he was at the Harare police station and the police had a notice to detain him.
Van den Bergh said the British Embassy and the South African Department of Foreign Affairs were assisting.
Smythe’s family was informed of the situation and the company had been informed that he was unharmed.
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Tichaona Nyikadzino • tichnyikadzino@yahoo.com Subject: arrest of tsvangirai's pilot Wed, 26 Mar 2008 01:51:47 • mugabe is not fair at all. while he is flying himself reaching the electorate, he does not want others to do the same. these elections will not be fair.
Hmn,but Ziso Re Povo majerasi! Ko munhu agadzirisa mapepa anosungirwa chii futi nhai nhai akomana?Ndiye here akati dombo risabude mafuta?Kana kuti ndiye akati vanhu vashaiwe mapapiro?Because people have to move from point A to B but if there is no fuel,mukati voumburuka nedumbu here?
Marc • marczivhu@yahoo.co.uk Subject: Confused Tue, 25 Mar 2008 17:01:11 • Was the pilot working for Simba or Morgan? Am confused because the same incident and pilot are attributed to Morgan according to the article below...
Tsvangirai pilot still held in Zimbabwe (New Zimbabwe.com, Last updated: 03/25/2008 14:38:46)
A BRITISH pilot has been arrested in Zimbabwe while doing work for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), the party confirmed.
There were conflicting reports over South Africa-based Brent Smythe's arrest at a small airfield north west of the capital Harare on Tuesday.
South African media reports, quoting his employer, said Smythe was arrested shortly before he was due to transport MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai on his campaign trail ahead of elections on Saturday.
However, a Reuters report said Smythe was delivering campaign material for the MDC when he was arrested at the Charles Prince air strip with at least two other MDC officials, including a parliamentary election candidate.
Luke Tamborinyoka, an MDC spokesman, told Reuters that Jameson Timba, who is running for MP, and his election agent, Garikai Chuma, were held by police as they were receiving campaign material.
He added: Apparently, the pilot was also caught up in the raid.
Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena declined to comment on the matter, saying he was yet to be briefed.
South Africa's Sapa news agency, quoting Wessel van den Bergh, chief executive officer of ATS aviation services, said Smythe was being detained at Harare Central Police Station.
Van Den Bergh said Smythe was due to fly Tsvangirai to various constituencies over the next two days and was expecting to take off at 7AM on Tuesday.
He sent me an SMS just after 7AM saying 'please help, the police have arrested me', Van den Bergh said.
The helicopter worth millions was also impounded and Van den Bergh was still trying to establish why Smythe was arrested because he believed all the paperwork was in order.
He received a later SMS from Smythe saying he was at the Harare police station and the police had a notice to detain him.
Van den Bergh said the British Embassy and the South African Department of Foreign Affairs were assisting, and he was receiving information from an aide from the opposition Movement for Democratic Change, which Tsvangirai is hoping will be voted into power in Saturday's election.
Smythe's family were informed of the situation and the company had been informed that he was unharmed. - Sapa
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Omugabe • dziva@sanandresano.com Subject: Africa for Africans Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:46:36 • Good work, Zim Patriots in catching the BRITISH SPY! Simba should also be arrested and confined for aiding and abetting a BRITISH SPY. This should be the end of the Simba campaign.
This Simba is even more brazen than the other treasonous traitors of the MDC (Mentally Deluded by Colonialists),
Imagine, MAKONI IS PERSONALLY GUIDING THE BRITISH SPY WHILE HE FLIES OVER THE HEADS OF Zim Patriots.
Zim Patriots now have another helicopter he can use.
n/a • n/a Subject: which is which Tue, 25 Mar 2008 16:00:23 • Just wondering, who's pilot was it, Tsvangison or Makoni?..
mahindra singh • sixtyeighthills@yahoo.com Subject: simba beware Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:53:14 • democracy at work and the elections will be free and fair hahaha
Jachacha • n/a Subject: Confused! Tue, 25 Mar 2008 15:30:49 • News24 is reporting that the pilot was due to transport Tsvangirai. I'm now confused. Your story is similar to that on News24 word for word except where u've Makoni they have Tsvangirai. Who is telling the truth here?
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