MUTARE – Peter Michael Hitschmann, a former member of the police constabulary, who was jailed for three years for possessing an arms cache, was released on Thursday.He immediately vowed he would not be a State witness in the trial of Roy Bennett, the MDC Deputy Minister of Agriculture-designate who is on remand pending a trial for treason.

State prosecutors say Hitschmann is the key witness in the trial of Bennett, who also faces charges of attempting to commit acts of sabotage, banditry, insurgency and terrorism.

Bennett’s trial will kick-off on October 13 this year. He faces life in jail if convicted. Bennett dismisses the charges as politically motivated.

Hitschmann told journalists in this eastern border city he would not be a State witness in Bennett’s case.

This will be a body blow to the State as Hitschmann is the principal witness. He said Bennett has nothing to do with the arms cache that was found in his possession.

Hitschmann was initially charged with attempting to assassinate President Mugabe and key Zanu-PF politicians in Manicaland but the charges were thrown out due to lack of evidence. He was then convicted on lesser charges of possessing arms without a license.

He was sentenced to four years in jail but served three years and three months.

“I was surprised to hear that I was a State witness (in Bennett’s case),” Hitschmann said. “I am certainly not going to be a State witness. I find it surprising. Bennett has nothing to do with it.”

“He has not been to my premise and there is no link between Bennett and the fire arms.”

He said he was forced to incriminate Bennett during torture by security agents.

“On the night of March 6, 2006 we were taken to Adams Barracks were we were tortured and forced to make certain confessions,” Hitschmann said. “None of the confessions incriminated Roy.”

Adams Barracks is an army camp outside Mutare on the Mozambican frontier.

“According to that confession Roy and I were plotting sabotage specifically of radio and communication equipment in the area of Bromley somewhere outside Harare.”

He said some of the forced confessions were that he was plotting to assassinate President Mugabe as he celebrated his birthday in Mutare.

Hitschmann said he was also forced to confess that he was planning to assassinate key Zanu-PF members in Mutare, Esau Mupfumi, a wealthy businessman and Enock Porusingazi, also a businessman and former MP for Chipinge South.

Charges that he wanted to assassinate President Mugabe and the two Zanu-PF officials from Mutare were thrown out by High Court Judge, Justice Chitakunye due to lack of evidence.

Hitschmann said he was disappointed he had completed his sentence while his appeal against conviction and sentence was still pending at the Supreme Court.

He said this was an indication the justice delivery system in Zimbabwe was skewed.

Hitschmann said prison conditions were appalling and during his 40 months’ stay in prison he saw close to 50 people die.

“The conditions can be described as (akin to) a death camp,” he said. “In my life I have been in many difficult situations but I have never seen humans die in conditions worse than (those of) animals.

He said he survived the harsh conditions because of the support he got from his family and friends.

Radio VOP