A Zvishavane magistrate has granted bail to 13 MDC officials arrested last Friday on charges of public violence in spearheading the one-month long strike at Shabanie mine.Defence lawyer Tichaona Chivasa said he would be making an official complaint against the police officers who shot some of his clients.
Its unfortunate that the police and state security agents wanted to politicise this case, but however I am glad that the court has acted professionally in dealing with this case. We are going to make a formal complaint to the police against the officers who shot our clients instead of defending them. The police also failed to take our injured clients to hospital in time as they detained them for five hours, said Chivasa.
The defendants are expected back in court on October 21.
Meanwhile MDC Midlands South treasurer, Lillian Timzeos, has condemned the arrest of her party members.
We wonder why this case has been turned to politics. Yes, its our members who are this time demanding their salaries, and we see no politics in that act. The mining management should give workers their dues and stop politicising labour issues, said Timzeos
The mine-workers last month went on strike, complaining that the management had been stealing their salaries by giving them less than what was printed on their pay slips.
Last Friday, riot police fired guns and tear gas at the striking workers and injured three people.
The workers have however vowed not to end the strike until their complaint has been addressed.
Post published in: Politics