MARONDERA - MDC councilor for ward 8, Carlos Mudzongwa, activists Fred Munemo, Peter Nyadembera, Admire Takawira and Talkmore Chapendama,The activists were accused of beating up a Zanu (PF) supporter at a shopping center in Rusike, while celebrations were in progress. The charges were denied.
Highly placed sources in the police revealed that Zanu (PF), police and CIO, have joined forces to instill fear in MDC structures through arbitrary arrests of members of the MDC youth wing.
The sources said arrested activists would be detained in custody indefinitely, under police application for further detention. This will scare away youths from participating in MDC politics.
Names of arrested activists were reportedly drafted and given to police by a Zanu (PF) youth identified as Saviour. He is employed by the local municipality as a refuse cleaner at the town bus terminus. There are also reports that the names given to police were handed over to an unidentified magistrate courts prosecutor for actioning. Arrested activists would be put on trial by a magistrate who was wife to the late CIO operative, Sydeny Nhlomayi, who abducted MDC district chairperson, Portifa Bakayimana, in May 2008.
The motive behind the arrests is to torture suspects and give the impression that supporting MDC is a risky and unnecessary activity. This will instill fear in MDC youths and destroy their fighting spirit. Zanu (PF) is scared of vibrancy enjoyed by MDC youths in Mashonaland East Province. The youths drive the party, hence the arrests. More arrests are yet to come, said a senior police officer at the district headquarters.
The arrested five are hardened activists, regarded as the spinal cord of MDC in the district. The party believes the police want to use the arrests to ban future MDC rallies in this small provincial capital.
When three CIO operatives visited the activists at police holding cells and attempted to extract confidential party information, the activists dismissed them.
Detainees told the CIO off. In connivance with an assistant inspector at the police law and order department, Hungwe, the CIO wanted to force Mudzongwa and Chapendama to incriminate Munemo and Takawira as brains behind the alleged assault. Zanu (PF) and CIO fear Munemo and Takawira could be behind the destruction of Zanu (PF) popularity in the province. Mudzongwa told the spy agents that they had no role to play in a trumped up public assault case. Munemo and Takawira are former police officers who were discharged from the force for supporting MDC, said the police source.
Assistant Inspector Hungwe, who is handling the case, is a war veterans association vice chairperson for Mazowe. He is also a senior member of Zanu (PF) district coordinating committee for Highfield. Hungwes swift deployment of police, CIO and CID operatives to arrested innocent MDC activists on trumped up charges angered Tsvangirais followers.
Hanging on the walls in Hungwes office at police district headquarters, is a Zanu (PF) campaign poster VOTE MUGABE FOR PRESIDENT. One of the arrested activists, Takawira, challenged Hungwe to choose between being a public servant or politician.
Where was Hungwe when our supporters were harassed, beaten up by known Zanu (PF) thugs and state security agents? Where was he when MDC activists, Portifa Bakayimana and Kainos Betera, were abducted and made to dispear by identified state security agents, broad day light in May 2008? Where was the police when MDC councilors, Caleb Marange and Felix Muzambi, were savagely assaulted by known Zanu (PF) thugs, asked MDC district information and publicity officer, Dominic Matangira.
MDC supporters who visited arrested activists at police holding cells challenged police to arrest known Zanu (PF), army and CIO agents who harassed, abducted and killed suspected MDC activists, in the run up to the discredited June 27, 2008 presidential elections run off. This angered partisan police officers, including Hungwe and a police constabulary member, Masendu, who ordered MDC supporters off the premise.
MDC supporters also challenged police to take the detained to court, since they had spent 96 hours in holding cells without trial. Running battles between police and MDC supporters ensued.
When the activists eventually appeared in court, there was heavy presence of armed riot police. The magistrates court resembled a war zone as armed police officers roamed the premises menacingly. MDC supporters in their hundreds braved the threat and told armed police details that they were prepared to die for justice and democracy. Release our colleagues and rule of law must prevail.
Though Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, claim to be drinking tea harmoniously with president Mugabe every Monday, this must not give him peace of mind, as Mugabes followers with the help of state security agents, are destroying MDC structures ahead of expected general elections next year. How can a self respecting police force take instructions from a suspected member of the neighborhood-watch like Masendu? This underscores speculations that, police is partisan and an extension of Zanu (PF) militia structures, said a senior resident on condition of anonymity.
MDC is disappointed with selective application of justice. Zanu (PF) and state agents of terror are on the rampage, harassing and arresting our members. They want to destroy MDC in Mashonaland Province. People are not happy with MDC CO-Minister of Home Affairs, Giles Mutsekwas inaction at the ministry. It is high time Mutsekwa justified his presence in the inclusive government ministerial portfolio, said MDC district chairperson, Chengetai Murova.
Post published in: Politics