U.S. plane seized

last updated 8 January 2015

Harare, Zimbabwe

Zimbabwean authorities impounded a U.S.-registered cargo plane this week that they said was carrying mercenaries and military equipment. State television footage showed sleeping bags, satellite phones, knives, and camouflage clothing in the cargo hold, but no guns. The 64 men on board were said to be mostly white and of various nationalities, including South African. There was no indication that the plane was connected to the U.S. government, but there has been tension between America and Zimbabwe. Last week, the U.S. tightened economic sanctions on Zimbabwe, because of President Robert Mugabe’s violent suppression of political opponents; Information Minister Jonathan Moyo responded, “Tell the imperialist to go to hell.”