MINISTER of State for Presidential Affairs Didymus Mu-tasa has described as "nonsense" police claims that he and another minister on Wednesday demanded the release of his son, Martin, from their custody.
Police on Thursday alleged that Minister Mutasa and Home Affairs co-Minister Theresa Makone went to their Mbare, Matapi and Stodart stations demanding the release of his son and other suspects.
The two were also accused of intimidating police officers at the stations.
The minister’s son, Martin Mutasa (47), was arrested on Monday along with businessman Temba Mliswa (38) and George Marere (36) on allegations of swindling a Harare man of shares worth over US$1 million in his company.
Mliswa is Minister Mutasa’s nephew.
The three accused, along with three other alleged accomplices, have since appeared in court.
In an interview yesterday, Minister Mutasa said he did not try to influence the police, but only wanted to know why his son had been arrested.
"What the police are saying is nonsense. As a father I have the right to visit my son, especially when he has been arrested.
"I also have the right as a minister to visit any person who has been arrested in this country.
"And as a citizen I have the right to go where I want," he said.
The minister said Martin Mutasa went to the station after he heard police were looking for him before being arrested.
"I did not interfere with anyone and I only wanted to know why he was held by the police. I was following my son as a father," he said.
Minister Mutasa charged that his son was being treated worse than was done to freedom fighters during the Smith regime.
"He was in a cell without any warm clothes in this cold weather," he said.
He said Minister Makone had tried in vain to contact Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri and the Officer Commanding Harare province, Senior Assistant Commissioner Martin Chari.
Minister Mutasa said at the police station he only talked to his son and left.
Efforts to contact Minister Makone were fruitless yesterday as her mobile phone was not reachable.
Police sources yesterday said Minister Mutasa called senior officers to give his side of the story.
"He has been in touch with senior officers but I am not at liberty to divulge what was discussed," said a source.
Another police source confirmed the communications.
Last night, chief police spokesperson Snr Asst Comm Wayne Bvudzijena said they stood by their earlier statement.
"We are standing by what we said and we can’t be talking about charges as of now.
"We are just stating the position of the law," he said.
According to police, on Wednesday Ministers Mutasa and Makone tried to "intimidate" officers into releasing Martin Mutasa.
A statement signed by Snr Asst Comm Bvudzijena read: "The Zimbabwe Republic Police views seriously the behaviour of the two ministers, which sought to interfere with police work, particularly as the ministers sought to protect accused person facing charges of wantonly seizing property outside the law and threatening others".
He said the behaviour contravened Section 184(1) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act by defeating or obstructing the course of justice.
Martin Mutasa, Mliswa and Marere appeared before Harare magistrate Mr Don Ndirowei to answer to fraud charges.
They were granted US$400 bail each, but will remain in custody after the State invoked Section 121 of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act.
The section empowers the State to keep suspects in remand prison for seven days while it considers appealing against the granting of bail.
Three others — Hammarskjold Banda, his wife Brendaly and Alfred Matiwamba — appeared before a Harare magistrate on the same charges and were granted US$100 bail each.
They will return to court on July 9.
It is alleged that the six connived to swindle Paul Westwood of his 50 percent share in Nashio Investments Limited.
Banda owned the other half of the company that is valued at US$2,1 million and deals in motor vehicle sales, purchases and repairs.
Brendaly was the finance and human resources manager at the firm.
It is alleged that Mliswa connived with the others and told Westwood that they had authority from Youth, Indigenisation and Empowerment Minister Saviour Kasukuwere to seize his shares.
