29 MDC-T members are facing murder charges in connection with the death of Petros Mutedza last year.
The MDC-T said in a statement on Friday that it is concerned that their activists remain locked up when six police officers who are also facing murder charges were released on bail this week. The police officers were arrested after they fatally assaulted a mineworker in Shamva last month.
“Most of the MDC members have been in remand for nearly a year in very appalling conditions of overcrowding, inadequate food and sanitary facilities as the High Court through Justice Chinembiri Bhunu denies them bail,” the MDC-T said, saying “their continued incarceration is a well-orchestrated political persecution and victimisation of the MDC and its members.”
The party called it “unusual” that the same High Court this week granted US$50 bail to the Shamva police officers “who abused their powers as public officers and assaulted mineworkers at Ashley mine, fatally assaulting Luxmore Chivambo.”
“The MDC finds it ridiculous that innocent people like the 29 MDC members are denied their right to freedom for a year while police officers who committed murder in front of hundreds of eyewitnesses are granted bail after only one week in remand prison,” the party statement said.
It added: “The continued persecution of the MDC members has now reached alarming and ridiculous levels and is raising a lot of unnecessary eyebrows, which are detrimental to the good health of the inclusive government.” SW Radio Africa
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