More harassment and arrests of MDC activists

An MDC supporter, Pilate Tshuma, 36, of Maqina Village in Kezi, Matebeleland South province, was detained for three days at Kezi police station on yet another charge of insulting the President. He was released on Monday and told that he would appear in court on Friday. There has been a spirited attempt in recent weeks by the police to harass and arrest MDC supporters and officials across the country on trumped – up charges of undermining the President.

In Matabeleland North province, the police have rejected notifications made by the MDC to have “Real Change Rallies” on Saturday 12 June. The MDC rallies were scheduled for Mahamba Business Centre in Bubi and Nkayi Business Centre in Nkayi but have now been called off after the police banned them. Soldiers from Perseverance Barracks in Chakari, Midlands North, are harassing and intimidating known MDC supporters threatening to kill them if they participate in the forthcoming Constitution-making process.

In Nyanga North, Manicaland province, Zanu PF activists led by a ward 9 chairperson Kennedy Tsvamuno are moving around forcing people to attend Zanu PF meetings threatening to assault those who refuse.

The headmaster of St Jude’s secondary school in Zhombe, Midlands North province, Albert Munetsi has written a dismissal letter to Ward 13 councillor Veti Moyo barring him from being a member of the school’s development committee. Last year, Munetsi, a self-styled war veteran and Zanu PF sympathiser threatened to dismiss students whose parents were well known MDC supporters and on several times wore Zanu PF regalia to work and would chant Zanu PF slogans at the school’s assembly.

MDC Information & Publicity Department

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