Chipinge MDC activists charged under Law and Order Act

By Tichaona Sibanda
14 November 2007

Police in Chipinge on Wednesday charged six MDC activists under the Law and Order Act for allegedly holding illegal political meetings “under the cover of darkness.”

The six were part of a group of 15 activists who were abducted from a house belonging to an MDC member in Chipinge South on Monday. The group was force-marched from the house by militias loyal to the Zanu-PF MP for the area, Enock Porusingazi. Nine of the activists were released on Tuesday.

MDC spokesman for Manicaland, Pishai Muchauraya told Newsreel their lawyers were allowed access to see the detained activists Wednesday morning. Police on Tuesday had efused any access and even denied their relatives the right to give them food.

‘They have been charged with various counts under the Law and Order Act. One was holding meetings at night, another was organising and holding political rallies in the district and other counts that don’t make sense at all,’ Muchauraya said.

The activists have however denied all the charges and have vowed to clear their names in court. They are expected to appear in court on Thursday morning.

Political tension has been on the rise in Chipinge district for the last four months, since Zanu-PF MPs and their supporters began a crackdown against opposition officials and activists. Already over 25 opposition activists have been arrested on flimsy charges.

Led by Enock Porusingazi, the Zanu-PF MP for Chipinge South, ruling party supporters have waged an ‘undeclared war’ against the opposition activists, some of whom have relocated to safer areas because of fear of being caught up in the violence.