Another MDC MP arrested.

Mutasa -  MDC MP for Mutasa Central Mr Trevor Saruwaka was arrested yesterday (11/5/2008) midmorning at Penhalonga Police Station. He had gone there to look for one of his Youth members who had been abducted and detained there, by war veterans.

While he was at the Police Station talking to the Officer in Charge, Assistant Inspector Goronga, some CIO’s whose names were not known, drove into the station and asked the reason why these MDC members were in the Police Station. They also asked who Trevor Saruwaka was and the Officer in Charge identified him. These CIO’s instructed for his arrest and immediate detention. The reasons put across were that he was inciting violence in Mutasa Central.

This follows an incident where MDC supporters were attacked by Zanu PF supporters and war veterans at DC Mutasa and Watsomba last week. The MDC youths and villagers in turn retreated into defensive positions and they retaliated heavily. Few casualties were reported in the Zanu PF camps. This retaliation came after the police were, on several occasions, notified of the violence perpetuated by the Zanu PF suporters and war veterans but took no action. Other MDC supporters who went to Penhalonga Police Station to make such reports were threatened with arrest and chased away. The arrest of the MP for the area did not come as a surprise to the party.It is Zanu PF’s agenda to try and frustrate the MDC leadership ahead of a possible run off, whose date they are reluctant to announce for fear of defeat & further embarassment.