“These arrests are a brazen and desperate attempt by the Zanu (PF) regime to stifle efforts by the civic groups and the media in exposing the abuse of human rights in Zimbabwe,” it said in a statement this week.
A number of prominent civic society members, lawyers and journalists have been arrested recently. The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) President Lovemore Matombo and secretary-general Wellington Chibhebhe were arrested on Thursday last week on allegations of communicating falsehoods prejudicial to the state and inciting public violence during an address they made in Dzivaresekwa, Harare on May Day. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â
Also last week the Editor of the Standard newspaper, Davison Maruziva was arrested for publishing an article written by Professor Arthur Mutambara. Although Maruziva was given a bail on Friday, the ZCTU leaders have been denied bail and are still languishing in police custody.
“We do not believe in a partisan police force. The MDC believes in a professional police force that is not an appendage of any political party. The police force and other state security organs should not be abused by and misled by those that are trying to cling to power against the wishes of the people.
“Across the country, Zanu (PF) continues to maim and kill with impunity. The regime’s supporters are murdering MDC members and the police are not doing anything to stop this madness. So far, 27 MDC supporters have been brutally murdered in the barbaric vengeance being visited upon innocent Zimbabweans for exercising their democratic right to vote. Reports have been made to the police but no arrests have been made and the perpetrators are still roaming freely and are continuing with their barbaric acts against humanity,” says the MDC.
“The days of this military junta are numbered. The people of Zimbabwe will not be cowed into submission by a regime they rejected on 29 March 2008. The people will triumph,” it added.
Post published in: News