Tsvangirai's caretakers picked up by police

POLICE yesterday picked up one of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's caretakers, Spiwe Vera, for further questioning.

Vera had initially been arrested on Thursday together with Elizabeth Banda at the PM's communications office based in Avondale, Harare, but the pair was later released.

However, Vera was yesterday resummoned for further questioning at Harare Central Police Station.

Defence lawyer Tarisai Mutangi confirmed Vera had been summoned again for further questioning.

"I can confirm that my client Vera was picked up again today  (yesterday) after having been released on Thursday and taken to the police station," said Mutangi.

"They came for her in the morning saying they wanted further clarification on the issues they had questioned her about on Thursday," he said.

Mutangi said charges against her were not yet clear, but Vera was later released around midday.

Tsvangirai's spokesperson Luke Tamborinyika said the clampdown on the PM's staff was an attack on the institution and office of the Prime Minister.

Four other officials in the PM's office were last week picked up and detained by the police together with human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa.

The four arrested senior officials in the PM's office are Thabani Mpofu, Felix Matsinde, Mehluli Tshuma and Warship Dumba.