14 MDC-T supporters detained in police cells

by Nomalanga Moyo on March 5, 2013

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai

By Nomalanga Moyo
5 March 2013

Fourteen MDC-T supporters arrested in Chegutu over the weekend appeared in court on Tuesday, charged with hindering a police officer from carrying out her duties.

The 14 were part of a group of 57 MDC-T activists who were on a bus travelling to Gweru for a constitution publicity campaign launch, addressed by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai on Saturday.

The activists are being held at Chegutu police cells after their application for bail pending trial was opposed by the state. The presiding magistrate reserved judgement until Thursday.

Their lawyer, Tonderai Bhatasara, told SW Radio Africa that the 14 are being charged under Section 184 of the Criminal Law (Reform & Codification) Act. They are all denying the charges.

The 14 are Kennethy Nyanhindi (29), Friday Matawire (19), Chigwada Tatenda (22), Masenda Benson (22), Archieford Mutsagwa (29), Waison Chapfungamoyo (29), Tendai Katsariga (28), Terrence Perk (30), Nash Ngoroyemoto (25), Elisha Mandizvidza (34), Michael Gondo (31), Simba Murigwa (42), Rodwell Madziyire (age not given) and Trouble Hasha (40).

Police spokesperson Superintendent Paul Nyathi said the 14 were aboard a Munenzva bus which was stopped at a roadblock and found to be “travelling ahead of its scheduled time”, leading to the driver’s arrest.

The 14 then disembarked from the bus which had the 54 supporters on board and confronted one of the police officers, demanding the driver’s release.

“One of the accused persons snatched the police detail’s cellphone and went back into the bus,” Nyathi told the Herald on Sunday.

Nyathi said the phone was not recovered, and warned that the “full wrath of the law will be applied” to anyone who obstructed the police from performing their duties.

However, Bhatasara said: “The police are now claiming the MDC-T supporters took the road permit and the driver’s licence from the female officer.

“The mobile phone theft has been left out of the charge sheet. What seemed to have irked the police was that the activists were wearing their party’s regalia and singing.”

Responding to the latest arrests, the MDC-T said in a statement that the party was disturbed by this selective application of the law by the police.

The party said “the charges are not just flimsy but irreconcilable” as the mobile phone was not found despite the 14 having been under police custody all the time.

“Such flimsy excuses by the police to arrest our people smirks of double standards for a force that has dismally failed to fulfill its constitutional duties.”

The MDC-T also reminded the police of acts of violence perpetrated against its members by ZANU PF supporters, who are yet to be arrested.

It said: “In Mbare, the police were on Friday unable to arrest ZANU PF thugs who assaulted MDC members in custody, opting to let the thugs go and leave the attacked in custody.

“Lamped Matava had to be admitted in hospital while Frank Kanyenze remained in custody.

In Headlands, a 12-year-old disabled boy, Christpowers Maisiri, was on February 23rd killed in what is widely suspected to be an arson attack by ZANU PF supporters.

The police have since ruled out any foul play but the Maisiris have slammed the shoddy investigation carried out by the police into their son’s death. – See more here

  • wilbert_mukori

    Responding to the latest arrests, the MDC-T said in a statement that the party was disturbed by this selective application of the law by the police. Yes that is all the MDC ever do issue one statement after another about the party being “disturbed”! This is totally hopeless.
    The GPA came up with a raft of democratic reforms which MDC has failed to get implemented these last five years; if the reforms had been implemented then Mugabe’s dictorial powers would have been taken away and all this chaos, violence and murders would be a thing of the past!
    Zimbabweans have to wake-up to the reality that until the reforms are implemented the abuse of power by the Police, Zanu PF thugs, etc. will continue. And wake-up to the fact that a no in the referendum is the nation’s very last chance to force the implementation of the reforms. The last chance!

    • Chimbwidos Warvets

      There he goes again, ‘reforms, reforms, reforms’ as if reforms on their own will bring violence, chaos and murders to an end. This will only end when lawlessness on the part of the MDC supporters comes to an end as the police will simply not look the other way when these guys are causing havoc and mayhem in the country. It should be understood that the police have a responsibility of keeping law and order in the country. Even if Tsvangirai becomes the head of state, he will continue to use the police force to ensure a trouble free election. Let us not get confused over this matter as it is that straightforward.

      • wilbert_mukori

        Of course Chimbwido, it is the MDC supporters, critics of the dictatorship and the ordinary Zimbabweans the real victims of all the corruption and brutal oppression who are causing all the violence and lawlessness and by some strange quark the same people causing the violence and lawlessness are also the victim of the same violence and lawlessness.

        In Zimbabwe the murderers are the murdered!

        Zimbabweans have been denied their basic rights all these last 33 years including their right to free and fair elections and the right to life itself. Of course we should not look to the very people denying them these rights to admit these things are happening much less how to end this injustice! Your voice Chimbwido like that of the tyrant Mugabe himself is like the howling of a mad dog it is full of noise but no sense.

        Just because Mugabe was able to hoodwink Tsvangirai and MDC and not implement the reforms; it will only be a matter of time before it dawns on the nation that the reforms are the only way forward, he will not hoodwink anyone then. The dictatorship is doomed, mark my word!

        • Chimbwidos Warvets

          Stop talking like an idiot Wilbert. Elections are around the corner and if Tsvangirai wins, he will simply influence change for the laws of the country to change to suit the needs of the MDC. But elections can not be held in an environment where the supporters of the MDC are causing havoc and mayhem and expect the law enforcement agencies to look the other way to please you. That is not the way it is done in government for even if Tsvangirai wins the elections, he will ensure there is law and order in the country. And this is what the government which the two MDC formations are a part is doing.

          Mugabe did not hoodwink Tsvangirai and the MDC for they knew pretty well what they were entering into, mate. Don’t be fooled by the MDC politicians that they were fooled by Mugabe but they simply wanted to enter into a government of national unity for the obvious benefits they are enjoying right now. They are all enjoying life to the full while the lot of you are crying foul. Tsvangirai is the biggest beneficiary with brand new two wives, a state-of-the-art-mansion in Borrowdale Brook worth millions of dollars, a chaffer driven Mercedes and a motorcade he never dreamt of before he joined the inclusive government and many other trimmings he is enjoying in government. His lieutenants in government are enjoying life more than they have ever enjoyed in their lives. It is a mirth which has no foundation that Tsvangirai and cabal were hoodwinked by Mugabe as these are all blue lies they have been propagating to their supporters to gain acceptance. The fact of the matter is they truly knew got into the game fully aware of the implications of joining the inclusive government but they wanted to eat also with others in this so-called gravy train. These guys are damn crooks who are bent at fooling their foolish supporters like you, Wilbert, a political commentator who is supposed to be highly analytical but who fails to assess the situation in its proper perspective.