MARONDERA - Residents here have castigated police for arresting MDC-T Member of Parliament, Ian Kay, on what they described as flimsy criminal charges. Bitter residents and MDC-T, described the arrest last week as a desperate attempt by Zanu (PF), which is seeking political survival.
The Marondera Central MP was accused of keeping expired drugs and arms of war at his Helensvale housein Borrowdale. Police said he had also donated expired medical drugs to local clinics and the General Hospital.
The six police officers who descended on his hiome, said they had reasonable grounds to believe that Kay was in possession of dagga, cocaine, heroin, hashish, ecstasy, pornographic material, smuggled goods, unlicensed firearms, unregistered and expired drugs.
“The late Zanu (PF) Member of Parliament for Chikomba, Chenjerai Hunzvi, donated expired drugs to Sadza Hospital, Pokoteke, Mushipe and Zvavahera clinics in 2000. Movern Mahachi, another Zanu (PF) Member of Parliament for Makoni West, also donated expired drugs to clinics around Makoni West butpolice took no action, said MDC-T district information and publicity officer, Dominic Matangira.
Matangira said the arrest of Kay was clearly politically motivated as Zanu (PF)was desperately trying to tarnish and silence influential MDC-T officials.
He said Kay won Marondera Urban Parliamentary seat when Zanu (PF) least expected.
“The arrest is a cheap political ploy by CIO and Zanu (PF), to break Kay’s spirit. They also want to stall his efforts to improve welfare of the poor through donations. Clinics, which benefited from the donation, had run out of drugs. Whatever Zanu (PF) will do to our elected Member of Parliament, will not stop us from supporting and voting him into office come next elections,” said Richard Zimondi of Dombotombo.
Residents said they cannot distance the CIO from Kay’s arrest.
“How did the CIO got involved in the medical drug issue? Why did they interrogate medical staff at affected clinics and council offices? Is the medical drugs issue of state security interest?” asked a management staff at the municipality.
as another MDC minister got nabbed
HARARE – Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) MP for Epworth Eliah Jembere was arrested on Saturday for allegedly chanting a slogan denigrating President Robert Mugabe as the police clampdown on the partys law makers intensifies.
Several MDC-T MPs and senators are awaiting trial on similar charges and party spokesman, Nelson Chamisa said they feared a new wave of political persecution.
Job Sikhala who recently formed his own MDC-99 has also been hauled before the courts for allegedly insulting Mugabe.
Chamisa said Jembere was arrested alongside MDC provincial treasurer Gilbert Kagodora at a rally at Wadzanai Shopping Centre in Shamva, Mashonaland Central.
They were arrested around 2pm and we understand the police are saying they insulted Mugabe when they chanted one of our slogans, Chamisa said: They were attending one of our real change rallies and we had notified the police about the rally.
Chamisa said the MDC-T will approach the co-Home Affairs ministers Giles Mutsekwa and Kembo Mohadi to register their displeasure at the conduct of the police.
Chamisa said although nothing was found in Marondera MP Ian Kays house he was still arrested and taken to Harare Central police station where he was still detained at the weekend.
Phiri said he needed time to get information about the arrests before issuing a comment.
However, subsequent attempts to contact Phiri on his mobile phone were unsuccessful as it continuously went on voice mail.
Post published in: News