ZCTU and NCA activists and leaders still detained by police

By Tichaona Sibanda
09 November 2005

The top leadership of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions is still in police custody following their arrests on Tuesday during a protest March in the capital city.

National Constitutional Assembly Chairman Lovemore Madhuku is also still in detention contrary to police reports on Tuesday that he will appear in court Wednesday.

Chitungwiza mayor Misheck Shoko was also arrested and is being held in Mbare. ZCTU President Lovemore Matombo and secretary-general Wellington Chibhebhe have now been transferred to a police holding cell in Chitungwiza while the NCA chairman has been placed in a cell in Mbare.

Initially, all the four were at one time detained at Harare central police station, including former MDC legislator Munyaradzi Gwisai. They have since been separated.

NCA deputy chairman Douglas Mwonzora, a lawyer who visited all of them said they were in high spirits. He said they fully understood their situation, which they described as part of Zanu (PF)’s strategy to silence them.

‘Above all, which is very important, is the fact that their morale was very high when I saw them. They all know this is a tactic by the government to persecute them for their independent views of what is happening to the country, said Mwonzora.