Police storm civil society meeting, arrest and beat up participants
By Tatenda Dewa
Police on Monday afternoon stormed a civil society meeting in Masvingo where participants were planning action against corruption and debating pop-corn protests by citizen activists currently taking place in Zimbabwe.
The meeting was convened by COTRAD Trust, a Masvingo-based NGO, and was attended by Masvingo Residents Trust, Masvingo Research Institute, ICOD Zimbabwe as well Masvingo United Residents and Ratepayers Alliance.
According to a statement by COTRAD, heavily armed police details besieged the seminar and arrested the organisers who were taken to Masvingo Central Police Station where they were still detained by Tuesday noon.
Those arrested included Brighton Ramusi, Ishamel Kupfuwa, Tatenda Maposa and Johannes Muzenda.
“The arrested and detained where harassed and assaulted by the visibly angry police details. No charges have been levelled against them,” said COTRAD.
“COTRAD is strongly against the use of violence by the police, which is targeting HRDs (human rights defenders) and will move swiftly to mobilise more citizens to express their displeasure with the conduct of the police and the Government of Zimbabwe,” added the organisation.
Zimbabwe has witnessed pockets of violent protests in recent days.
Beitbridge residents late last week staged angry demonstrations against a government ban on some imported items, burning a Zimbabwe Revenue Authority (ZIMRA) rented warehouse, sealing off the border post and blockading roads.
As citizen anger rises against President Robert Mugabe’s government which is currently cash strapped and is struggling to pay civil servants, the pop corn protests surfaced in Harare’s southeastern suburbs early Monday morning.
Public transport operators were locked in running battles with anti-riot police for hours as protesters were joined by residents demonstrated against the swamping roadblocks where traffic cops are being accused of extorting motorists.
Calls are growing for political parties, which have merely issued solidarity statements, to join in so that the protests will bring enough pressure on the Zanu PF government which has reacted with brute force against the demonstrators.
Established civil society organisations and political parties have merely issued solidarity statements.
The main opposition, MDC-T, recently staged demonstrations against the current economic crisis marked by high unemployment, cash shortages and widespread poverty in Harare, Bulawayo and Mutare.
However, it has been inactive as citizens took the government by the horns, demanding Mugabe’s and his cabinet’s immediate resignation.
Individual citizens see an opportunity in the current civil protests to spur Mugabe’s government to act on the crisis.
Edna Masanga, a human and child rights defender, came out in support of a call for civil servants to down tools over poor working conditions.
“If they can down tools, and bring government to a halt by demanding that Mugabe steps down and their salaries be paid on time…they can change the course of politics in Zimbabwe. And by so doing, write history,” said Masanga.
There is likely to be a new wave of protests as teachers gear up for industrial action at a time government doctors are already on go slow for delayed and poor salaries. Nehanda Radio
