The Zimbabwe Republic Police on Monday arrested four people
at Robert Gabriel Mugabe International Airport believed to be part of shadowy
anti-Government organisations working with MDC-Alliance, who were planning to
roll out violent demonstrations in the country and received training from
abroad.
This confirms a report by The Herald last week, which
correctly reported that eight individuals — including a multimedia journalist
from a local newspaper — were attending workshops in Zimbabwe, the region as
well as Czech Republic and Maldives on tactics to abet violence.
Upon the discovery of the plot, The Herald understands that
the groups’ travel plans were altered to cover up and wrong-foot authorities. But
a group of four was arrested coming from Europe.
Those that were arrested by the police are the Citizens
Manifesto coordinator Tatenda Mombeyarara (37), Centre for Community
Development in Zimbabwe advocacy officer George Makoni (38), Nyasha Frank
Mpahlo (35) of Transparency International Zimbabwe and executive director of
Community Tolerance Reconciliation and Development (COTRAD), Gamuchirai Mukura
(31).
Following their arrests, the four were taken to Harare
Central Police Station for further investigations. They were, last night, still
in custody and will appear in court today.
Secretary for Information, Publicity and Broadcasting
Services Mr Nick Mangwana yesterday confirmed that the police had arrested the
four soon after their arrival from the Maldives.
“The four were arrested after disembarking from a South
African Airways flight while coming from the Maldives and are currently
assisting police with investigations,” he said.
Shadowy organisations and some rogue elements with links to
the MDC-Alliance had been circulating messages since last week, through social
media, instigating members of the public to engage in civil disobedience and
engage in demonstrations in central Harare, but people did not take heed.
The police maintained heavy presence ready to contain any
unlawful actions in Harare and in other cities. Law enforcement agencies said
there were no incidences of disturbances and violence reported countrywide.
A tight vigil by the police followed information at hand,
that there were shadowy organisations seeking to unleash a wave of violent
demonstrations beginning next month, with ring leaders of civil unrest having
received training in the Czech Republic and the Maldives. Herald
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