MDC-T condemn arrest and detention of Mangoma

By Lance Guma

Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s party on Wednesday condemned the arrest and detention of Energy and Power Development Minister Elton Mangoma over allegations that he insulted President Robert Mugabe at an MDC-T function in May this year.

Mangoma, the MDC-T Deputy Treasurer General was arrested by four police detectives identified as Detective Sergeant Kamuzwimbi, Detective Constable Nzombe, Detective Constable Dickson and Detective Sergeant Gunduza from the Law and Order Section at Harare Central Police Station.

According to the arresting officer, one Detective Sergeant Kamuzvimbi, Mangoma allegedly said “Mugabe Chifa, Mugabe Chibva” (Loosely translated Mugabe die, Mugabe go). This, the police say undermined the authority of the president.

The MDC-T said the timing of the arrest is strange as it comes when Mangoma, the party’s lead negotiator present in the country is expected to meet with the SADC facilitation team in Harare on Thursday to get a briefing on the political, and security situation in the country.

“Mangoma is set to present vital information on the operations of the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC)– an organ Zanu PF has sought to paralyse by its continued and glaring absence from its meetings,” the MDC-T said in a statement.

The party said the arrest also comes at a time when the country is getting ready for the Second All Stakeholders’ Conference slated for this month “where Zimbabweans will have a chance to input into the draft constitution that was produced by the Parliamentary Select Committee on the Constitution (Copac).”

Mangoma is one of the MDC-T representatives in the Management Committee of Copac. “The MDC therefore, finds the latest assault on its leadership as part of Zanu PF’s concerted efforts to weaken the MDC-T leadership ahead of these crucial meetings.”

“The continued harassment of the MDC-T leadership is part of Zanu PF grand plan to divert people’s attention from pertinent issues of Constitution making and the continued looting of state resources by Zanu PF cronies in Chiadzwa.”

The party said it felt vindicated in calling for security sector reform and “the immediate resignation of Acting Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri for failure to execute his duties professionally and in the interest of the Zimbabwean people. The police continue to act as an appendage of Zanu PF’s security department and this is unacceptable,” they said.

It not the first time Mangoma has been arrested. Last year he was arrested twice and later on acquitted and freed on charges of flouting tender procedures in the procurement of fuel and for fixing tenders in the purchase of electricity metres.

His arrest according to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) brings to 45 the number of insult cases the group has monitored and handled in recent months. Since 2010, there has been a dramatic increase in the arbitrary application of Section 33 of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.

Mangoma represented by ZLHR lawyers Beatrice Mtetwa and Selby Hwacha denied the ‘insult’ charge in “its totality” and was released after Chief Superintendent Ngirishi recorded a warned and cautioned statement from him.”

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