MDC-T youths yesterday called for the immediate release of
their incarcerated counterparts, saying there is no need to continue holding
them for crimes against former President Robert Mugabe.
In an interview at Africa Unity Square in Harare where
thousands converged in support of the impeachment process against Mugabe, MDC-T
youth leader Happymore Chidziva said a number of opposition activists were
arrested for various crimes, among them spearheading an anti-Mugabe campaign.
Citizens from different sections of society, among them
politicians, church organisations and civic society groups, were piling
pressure on Mugabe to resign.
Chidziva said now that everyone had seen the other side of
Mugabe, which they had been talking about for years, it was no longer time to
keep his critics incarcerated.
“We want our arrested activists to be released. They must
be set free now because they are incarcerated on trumped-up charges. Zanu PF
should be sincere and do the right thing. We have a lot of people who are in
jails,” he said.
“We have Tungamirai Madzokere, Yvonne Musarurwa and Lazarus
Maengahama, among others. This is an opportunity for Zanu PF to show contrition
and if they are not released, then it shows they are not reforming.
“Everyone with trumped-up charges, even those in Zanu PF
must also be released. If they are not released then, as citizens, we will
continue taking to the streets to demonstrate so that political activists are
released.”
The three MDC-T activists are serving 20-year jail terms
each for the murder of police Inspector Petros Mutedza.
Among other demands, Chidziva said they wanted a free and
fair election to avoid a disputed outcome that would plunge the country into
further political turmoil.
Concerned Citizens Support Network of Zimbabwe (CCSNZ),
which together with others planned yesterday’s gathering addressed by MDC-T
leader Morgan Tsvangirai and Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume said
all the desired electoral reforms should be implemented as soon as possible.
“Personal benefit approach will not be accepted by
citizens. We stand with what is right and what give citizens hope and freedom
so that we go into a free and fair election.
We want a clear roadmap of how the military will honour the
constitutionality in future and respect a democratically elected government. We
are cognisant of that fact that there are political prisoners who deserve
freedom as well,” CCSNZ representative Assan Mtembo said.
Tendai Masunda from CCSNZ said there was need to create
space for youth participation in the country’s development unlike what
transpired during Mugabe’s era. Newsday
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