Six leaders of Zimbabwe's main opposition party arrested
Harare, Zimbabwe (PANA) – Six leaders of Zimbabwe's main opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) Alliance, were arrested on Friday for trying to gain access into their party's headquarters after being forcefully taken by the army and police on Thursday.
MDC Alliance Vice Presidents Tendai Biti and Lynette Karenyi-Kore, Secretary for International Relations Hlatywayo Gladys Kudzaishe, Deputy International Relations Secretary Lovemore Chinoputsa, Deputy Secretary General David Chimhini, and leader Vongai Tome were all arrested on Friday.
This was after the officials tried to reclaim their headquarters, located in Harare’s central business district, after MDC-T faction leader, Thokozani Khupi, enlisted the army and police on Thursday to take the MDC Alliance’s party headquarters building.
“I have been arrested together with VP Biti, VP Kore, Deputy International Relations Leader Lovemore Chinoputsa, DSG Chimhini and Leader Vongai Tome. Our crime is presenting ourselves at MRT House. We are currently at Harare Central Police Station,” tweeted Kudzaishe moments before the arrest on Friday.
PANA confirmed that the arrested MDC officials and others from the party arrived at their headquarters requesting access into their building from police who were stationed there.
But, the police officers refused them access and referred them to their superiors at the Harare Central police station.
After the refusal, the MDC Alliance officials started singing and an order was then issued by the police for their arrest.
“Emmerson (President Emmerson Mnangagwa) has sunk to a new low even by his own low standards,” tweeted Biti.
“The violent takeover of our Head Office, MRT (Morgan Richard Tsvangirai) House, by the military and police is abuse and capture of State institutions. We don’t accept this and will do everything in our power. We are sick and tired of being sick and tired.”
Khupe has been making use of a Supreme Court ruling in March that seemingly made her the leader of the entire MDC party.
Armed with this, on Thursday, MDC-T secretary general Douglas Mwonzora wrote a memo to the MDC Alliance stating:
“The party wishes to advise that following the communication sent by the acting president Dr T Khupe to Advocate Nelson Chamisa, the latter has today through party officials allowed for a peaceful takeover of control of the Morgan Tsvangirai house.”
However, legal problems in reclaiming the MRT Building could arise as it is not in the name of the MDC Alliance as PANA understands from senior party officials.
In response to the takeover, MDC Alliance spokesperson Fadzai Mahere issued a statement early Friday, before the arrests, stating that it was sinister for the soldiers and police to interfere in the internal squabbles of the opposition.
“At approximately 10pm on June 4, 2020, a truckload of armed soldiers and police officers assisted 20 youths to forcibly gain entry into the MDC Alliance Headquarters, Harvest House,” Mahere said.
“The soldiers severely assaulted our security personnel who were manning the building. The youths locked themselves in the building refusing to leave,” she said, adding that the party secretary general Chalton Hwende had attended the scene but his attempt to make a police report over the takeover was thwarted and he was advised to talk to the army.”
She said the use of armed forces to settle personal squabbles must be condemned in the strongest way possible by all pro-democracy forces.
The latest action by Khupe seemingly confirms that she is heavily linked to Mnangagwa and his ruling ZANU PF party.
Khupe’s action comes after MDC Alliance members of parliament (MPs) returned to parliament on Thursday after the party held meetings and called for their elected officials to return.
The initial boycott from parliament was in protest to the removal of four of its members, namely, Charlton Hwende, Prosper Mutseyami, Thabitha Khumalo and Senator Lilian Timveos who are all currently arguing the dismissal in court.
-0- PANA TZ/AR 5June2020
