MDC-T say policeman was killed by drinkers

The police say Inspector Petros Mutedza was killed by a mob of riotous MDC-T supporters at an unauthorised meeting on Sunday in Glen View, Harare.

Police spokesman Andrew Phiri said Mutedza led a police contingent to the scene, following a report that there was an illegal gathering.

They proceeded to the scene, and indeed there was a large number of MDC-T party activists who were donning party t-shirts. And since the gathering was illegal, the police tried to disperse them, and in the process the crowd began to be riotous. They started throwing stones and other objects at the police officers, Phiri explained.

He said that Mutedza, who was at the forefront, was hit by a stone and fell down. The mob surrounded him, trampling and kicking him until he was unconscious. He was taken to Harare Central Hospital and pronounced dead on arrival.

Phiri also said that as further proof, the MDC-T had previously stated they wanted to have a meeting in that area.

But the MDC-T has furiously denied the allegations. Obert Gutu, the MDC-Ts Harare Province Secretary for Information and Publicity, dismissed the allegations saying there was no MDC-T meeting held in Glen View on Sunday.

Dont see this as an isolated incident. Its well orchestrated, well planned. The idea is to build up a case to paint the MDC as a violent party and obviously to try to convince SADC, come June 11 in Joburg, that the MDC is not to be believed, that the MDC is the architect of violence, Gutu said.

On Tuesday, MDC-T spokesman Douglas Mwonzora also dismissed the police claims. He said; We have information that the police arrived at Glen View. They had an altercation with members of the public drinking at Glen View Shopping Centre. He added that it was the police who started beating up members of the public and that is when the fight started. We have people, eye-witnesses, who can testify, Mwonzora said.

The police are reportedly calling for the death sentence for anyone convicted of the killing and the MDC-T say several of its members have been arrested over the police inspectors death and concern is growing that they may face the death penalty for a crime they did not commit.

The party argues that the police conduct is deeply flawed, and that their members are not being treated fairly by the authorities.

Before the police could investigate the matter, they rushed to the press and announced that it was the MDC. It then sought to arrest MDC members later. So what we are saying is that the police looked for someone to arrest and blame first, then they had to justify arrests, Mwonzora said.

There is a possibility that they will be wrongly convicted, he said. He added that the arrests made were ridiculous in some cases up to three family members of activists were arrested from their homes and some from outside Glenview. The party says on Monday, 15 activists were arrested, and around 20 more on Tuesday.

Lawyers were still battling to gain access to the activists, who include Last Maengahama, an MDC-T national executive member and resident of Glen View, and his three brothers, Stanley, Edison and Lazarus Maengahama; plus Odius, Lloyd and Precious Chitanda, all related to Glen View North chairperson of the party, Mrs Chitanda.

Also picked up were Mavis Madzokere, the wife of Glen View councilor Tungamirai Madzokere, and Ollyn Madzokere, her sister-in-law. The two were picked up at their home. Stefan Takaedzwa was picked up outside the MDC-T headquarters, Harvest House.