Mugabe pardons apartheid spy

HARARE – Zimbabwe’s President Robert Mugabe has freed on medical grounds a jailed South Africa apartheid spy, incarcerated for 15 years, daily papers said yesterday.

Reon Schutte, 43, had been serving a 26-year term at Zimbabwe’s top security prison, Chikurubi, for espionage, illegal possession of firearms and car theft. Schutte was arrested in 1989 for car theft while on a spying mission against the African National Congress (ANC) for the former South Africa regime.”The President has pardoned him and signed for his release again last week,” Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa told the state-run Herald.Mugabe reportedly agreed to a family request for clemency which came through President Thabo Mbeki.Schutte has been diagnosed with cancer and a bladder problem.He was expected to fly back to South Africa yesterday.- Nampa-AFPSchutte was arrested in 1989 for car theft while on a spying mission against the African National Congress (ANC) for the former South Africa regime.”The President has pardoned him and signed for his release again last week,” Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa told the state-run Herald.Mugabe reportedly agreed to a family request for clemency which came through President Thabo Mbeki.Schutte has been diagnosed with cancer and a bladder problem.He was expected to fly back to South Africa yesterday.- Nampa-AFP