When The Zimbabwean news crew arrived at Gweru Central police, 25 of the participants from different civic organisations were detained at the CID law and Order section offices while two of the participants were in police cells.
Zimbabwe Human Rights lawyer Brian Dube who is representing the civic society activists said: “We are not sure what will happen to the participants. The police have not even told me what charges the people are facing.”
He added that from his own investigations, the police officers manning the station were waiting for their senior officers attending the ZANU (PF)’s Conference to give them directions on how to move forward with the case.
Names of the detained officials could not be immediately released but it is understood that apart from ZESN officials, police had also swooped on other rights activists from the Legal Resources Centre.
The officials were holding a meeting which coincided with the ZANU (PF) conference taking place about 10km outside the city.
Witnesses who spoke to The Zimbabwean said heavily armed riot police surrounded the Midlands hotel and rounded up all the participants.
Recently civic society groups complained about arrests of their members. They see it as an attempt to disrupt heir activities ahead of next yesr's general elections.
Post published in: News