MDC MP Meke Makuyana released from jail on bail
By Tichaona Sibanda
30 July 2009

MDC MP for Chipinge South Meke Makuyana who was earlier this month sentenced to 18 months in jail after being found guilty of kidnapping was on Thursday released on $100 bail.

Pishai Muchauraya, the MDC spokesman for Manicaland province told us Makuyana denies the charges and has since appealed against both conviction and sentence.

The Chipinge South legislator was sent to prison for kidnapping two ZANU PF supporters in the run-up to the 2008 harmonised elections. Chipinge provincial Magistrate Samuel Zuze convicted Makuyana, along with Councillor Chisumbanje Hardwork Masaiti, and two MDC-T party supporters Wedzerayi Gwenzi and Simon Chaya, after a full trial.

The four pleaded not guilty. Meanwhile, police in Mutare have arrested and detained Jack Robert Saunyama the MDC-T Provincial Security Officer.

Muchauraya said Saunyama is being accused of having committed crimes to do with ‘public violence,’ saying it was easier for the ZANU PF led courts to convict people under this charge.

“This has become the latest state apparatus to eliminate all prominent MDC-T members in Manicaland where ZANU PF lost dismally in the March 2008 election,” Muchauraya said.

He added; “MDC-T scooped 20 seats out of 26. Most of the defeated ZANU PF members were either ministers or central committee members, the likes of Joseph Made, Oppah Muchinguri, Enock Porusingazi and Patrick Chinamasa.