AIDS activists and MDC officials arrested in Kariba

By Tichaona Sibanda
25 September 2006

Eleven AIDS activists from Save the Children Zimbabwe and a child protection group, plus six top MDC officials including the Mayor of Kariba, were arrested Saturday from the resort town’s Nyamhunga surburb.

They are all still in police custody and are expected to appear in court on Tuesday. Lawyer Tapiwa Muchineripi who is representing the 17 arrested said police pounced on the group for allegedly holding an illegal meeting. He said of the 17, five are women who are all AIDS activists based in the town.

‘My clients are still detained at Mahombekombe police station and are expected to appear in court tomorrow (Tuesday). The six MDC officials will be charged under POSA. The six, together with the rest of the group will also face another charge of gathering as a group to provoke the breach of peace,’ Muchineripi said.

Those in custody are Kariba executive Mayor John Houghton, Kwekwe MP Blessing Chebundo, former Chegutu Mayor Francis Dhlakama, national executive member Silas Matamisa and MDC Mashonaland West provincial chairperson Jephat Karemba. There is one unnamed MDC official also in custody while the rest are HIV/AIDS activists based in Kariba.

Muchineripi denied reports that the group had gathered for a political meeting, insisting that all of those arrested were well known HIV/AIDS activists.

‘Their meeting had nothing to do with politics. It was a meeting to discuss the HIV/AIDS crisis in the country.’ He said.

A statement released by MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa condemned the arrests, describing the regime’s action as confirmation that Zimbabwe has been turned into a police state. Chamisa added that ‘the regime is locked in a permanent mode of thuggery against the people. Throughout the country, the regime continues to engage in a sustained fight against democracy by banning our meetings, detaining our officials and even unleashing violence on innocent Zimbabweans.’