THE DAILY AGENDA
15 April 2011
Lupane – Arrested Roman Catholic Priest, Marko Mkandla has been slapped with four charges. The charges are contravening Section 25 of POSA (holding a public meeting without police clearance), contravening section 31 of the Criminal Law Codification Act (communicating false statements against the state) and contravening Section 42 of the Criminal Law Codification Act (causing offence to particular tribe). The Priest was arrested on Wednesday after holding a church service to pray for peace in Zimbabwe. He will appear in court on Tuesday.
Lupane – There are reports that, Minister in the Organ of National Healing and Reconciliation, Moses Mzila Ndlovu has been arrested and is being detained at Lupane Police Station. Mzila Ndlovu was arrested on his way to Victoria Falls where three Co-Ministers of the Organ of National healing had been invited to make a presentation on how far the Ministry has gone on the process of national healing. Police set a roadblock at Lupane and laid an ambush. He was arrested around 0700hrs.
Considering that the Minister’s arrest is the second clampdown after the arrest of the Roman Catholic Priest on Wednesday as well as another disruption of a meeting in Matobo, there are strong indications that the Police under the instruction of ZANU PF (not the Inclusive Government) have reportedly declared zero tolerance on national healing programmes. The ZANU PF party has been dragging its feet on issues of national healing, dodging meetings while Mzila Ndlovu has been the most active and vocal.
Bulawayo – In a related incident, the MDC has withdrawn itself from the Independence Day celebrations following the arrest of Minister Moses Mzila Ndlovu (co-Minister of the Organ on National Healing and Reconciliation). Bulawayo Province Party spokesperson, Edwin Ndlovu said his party had committed to donating towards the celebrations but they now cannot support the celebrations while a minister is arrested on constitutional duty, adding that there is no independence to celebrate. Mzila Ndlovu is an ex ZIPRA liberation war hero.
Bulawayo Agenda is a civil society organisation that conducts advocacy on issues of democracy. It is committed to providing an apolitical platform for people to express their views and debate on matters that affect their lives. It has active chapters in Gweru, Gwanda, Plumtree, Victoria Falls, Matobo, Hwange, Binga, Nkayi, Lupane and Tsholotsho.
Contact:
Bulawayo Agenda Information
|