NCA spokesperson remanded out of custody
By Lance Guma
08 October 2007

The National Spokesperson for the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) Madock Chivasa was remanded out of custody by a Masvingo magistrate on Monday. Also released were Youth Forum coordinator Wellington Zindove. Chivasa told Newsreel he is being charged for what authorities have termed criminal nuisance following his remarks that the police force were Robert Mugabe’s dogs. Police claim this statement undermined their authority.

The case will be heard again in court on the 21st October while Chivasa paid Z$10 million dollars bail to secure his freedom. He is required to report twice every Friday at Avondale police station. This means visiting the police station in the morning and in the evening in one day. The NCA who are fighting for a new constitution say they note with great concern that their spokesperson was arrested and detained for 6 days for merely addressing a public meeting that had been sanctioned by the police.

Zanu PF youths allegedly bussed into the city by Masvingo South MP Walter Mzembi disrupted the meeting, and instead of arresting the violent youths police picked up known government critics among them Zindove and student leader Edison Hlatshwayo. Hlatshwayo remains in custody after the magistrate said he had several other cases pending in the courts. Chivasa meanwhile says they were denied food and legal representation during their detention, a deliberate ploy to try and sap their morale.