Mwonzora arrested

Hon. Mwonzora was illegally arrested by three policemen outside Parliament and taken to Harare Central Police Station.

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)s lawyers Tawanda Zhuwarara and Jeremiah Bamu who attended at Harare Central Police Station say police indicated that they were acting on radio instructions from CID Law and Order Section at Nyamaropa Police Station in Nyanga, Manicaland. They claim that Hon. Mwonzora allegedly incited violence in his Nyanga North constituency over the weekend. The lawyers are challenging the legality of the arrest and detention on the basis that Harare police acted without reasonable suspicion and/or evidence of the commission of any alleged offence.

After being subjected to profiling at Harare Central Police Station, Mwonzora is now in the process of being removed to Rhodesville Police Station for overnight detention. Lawyers have instructed individuals to camp at the police station overnight in an effort to prevent Mwonzoras unlawful removal from Rhodesville during the night, and his possible disappearance.

Last week Nyanga police arrested several Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters after they held a meeting in Hon. Mwonzoras constituency.

In Dorowa, police arrested two Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum researchers Shastry Njeru and another unidentified researcher, who were administering a questionnaire on a research project on transitional justice.

In Beitbridge, Magistrate Gloria Takundwa on Tuesday 15 February 2011 granted bail to two of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirais drivers who were charged with flouting Road Traffic Regulations.

Magistrate Takundwa ordered the two drivers Clifford Sanyika and Joshua Mhuruyengwe to deposit $200 each as bail money with the Clerk of Court and to reside at their given residential addresses. The two drivers who were remanded out of custody to 8 March 2011 were ordered not to interfere with witnesses.

Sanyika and Mhuruyengwe were arrested at the Beitbridge Border Post on their way from South Africa on Friday 11 February 2011 and charged with contravening Section 29 (1) (10) or alternatively Section 29 (3) of Statutory Instrument 154 of 2010 for allegedly driving two vehicles fitted with blue beacon lights.

In Harare, Magistrate Don Ndirowei on Tuesday 15 February 2011 granted bail to a Mabvuku councillor, Munyaradzi Kufahakutizwi who was charged with contravening Section 41 (b) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act for alleged disorderly conduct in a public place.

Magistrate Ndirowei ordered Councillor Kufahakutizwi to pay $50 and to report once a week on Fridays at Mabvuku Police Station. Councillor Kufahakutizwi, who was remanded out of custody to 4 March 2011, was also ordered to continue residing at his given residential address and not to interfere with witnesses.