COTRAD claims its members were arrested for urging youths to vote in the July 31 election. In a statement, COTRAD says the youths included Manasa Chuma, Harrison Gumbo and Idah Uripachena of Mwenezi; Morgan Sithole and two others from Chiredzi; Innocent Bveketu from Gutu and several others.
“A total of 10 cases in different localities have emerged,” reads the statement. Chuma, Gumbo and Uripachena were said to be in possession of articles enabling them to announce election results in a criminal manner.
Sithole and two others were picked up last week for a similar charge while Bveketu for allegedly destroying political posters.
The organisation claimed that contrary to its members’ current fate, the youths were targeted for monitoring political violence during and after the elections.
“We feel this is just being done to intimidate and deter youths from participating in future elections,” the organisation said.
Post published in: News