MDC-T activist arrested for spying on Lesotho Prime Minister

A suspected MDC-T activist who allegedly breached visiting Lesotho Prime Minister Motsoahae Thabane's security after masquerading as a State security agent was arrested last Friday and charged with spying.

Regererai Timothy Mangwiro of Budiriro, Harare, yesterday denied the charges of impersonating a public officer and possession of dagga when he appeared before Victoria Falls magistrate Archibald Dingane.

The court heard that as a result of his misrepresentation, Mangwiro got into one of the vehicles forming Thabane's motorcade when the visiting PM toured Victoria Falls last week.

Thabane had been invited to officially open this year's edition of the Harare Agricultural Show.

Takundwa Ndorowi, for the State, told the court that Mangwiro arrived in Victoria Falls on August 1 and was booked at one of the lodges in the resort town.

However, on August 23 when Thabane arrived in Victoria Falls to tour the Falls, Mangwiro breached the security system and masqueraded as a security agent when the Premier's motorcade was leaving for the Victoria Falls Rainforest.

He allegedly entered an ambulance which was part of Thabane's motorcade after presenting himself as a member of the Central Intelligence Organisation.

Mangwiro went with the Lesotho PM's entourage to Victoria Falls Rainforest from Elephant Hills Hotel.

As the motorcade left, he again got into the ambulance when the motorcade was heading back to Elephant Hills.

At the hotel, security agents became suspicious of Mangwiro's actions and arrested him.

They conducted a body search and recovered 50 grammes of dagga from his pockets.

He was remanded in custody to tomorrow for judgment.