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| the pair at Harare Central |
Both Ngarivhume and Chin'ono were picked up in the morning
and face charges of "incitement to participate in public violence",
police confirmed.
Police officers broke into Chin'ono's Chisipite house in
Harare, threatened his workers and dragged him out, a video of the arrest which
went viral on social media showed. Chin'ono has gained a following by exposing
graft in Mnangagwa's administration.
His lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, in a video shot at the house,
said: "We have just arrived at Hopewell's house after receiving an SOS
that his home has been surrounded by about eight State security agents and they
broke the glass at his door, gained entry and he has been abducted."
In a statement, national police spokesperson Assistant
Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests.
"The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that Jacob
Ngarivhume of Transform Ziimbabwe and Hopewell Chin'ono have been arrested in
connection with allegations of contravening section 187(1)(a) as read with
section 37(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter
9:23, ‘incitement to participate in public violence'," the statement read.
"The duo will appear in court soon and are currently
in police custody."
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), who dispatched
lawyers to aid Chin'ono and Ngarivhume, also confirmed the arrests.
"We can confirm that Ngarivhume has been arrested and
is being held at the law and order section. At the moment, they are still
profiling him together with Chin'ono, but charges are yet to be preferred
against them. The lawyers, who are with them, are saying the police are talking
about inciting the public against the government as the possible charge,"
ZLHR said.
The arrests, which come amid reports that police were also
after MDC Alliance deputy chairperson Job Sikhala and #Tajamuka/Sesijikile
leader Promise Mkhwananzi, triggered an outcry from non-governmental
organisations and the United States embassy, who condemned the arrests.
In a statement, Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum castigated
the State's response and arrest of graft fighters ahead of the July 31
demonstrations.
"The forum notes with deep concern the arbitrary
arrest of journalist Hopewell Chin'ono from his home in Harare ... His arrest
was documented on video and confirmed by lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa who has been to
his house. Police officers, with one holding a weapon, can be seen in the
video. His house has been broken into and he has been taken to Harare Central
Police Station," NGO Forum said.
The rights body also noted the attempt to silence
Ngarivhume, who is fronting the demonstration against Mnangagwa's government,
which he has accused of being corrupt and failing to fight the scourge of
corruption that has robbed the nation of billions in United States dollars.
"Early today (yesterday), opposition leader Jacob
Ngarivhume was arrested and is currently in police custody.
Ngarivhume has been calling for citizens to speak out
against corruption," the statement read.
They accused government of continued use of force to break
legitimate and constitutional demonstrations by citizens.
"The government of Zimbabwe continues to use the
security apparatus to threaten the safety and welfare of its citizens.
Recently, the police also broke into the house of Amalgamated Rural Teachers
Union of Zimbabwe leader Obert Masaraure in the middle of the night. He has
been previously been subjected to harassment, abduction, assault and torture
for speaking against injustices," the statement read.
Mnangagwa's spokesperson George Charamba, using his Twitter
handle @ Jamwanda2, appeared to suggest that those arrested were puppets of the
West.
Responding to a post from the United State embassy in
Harare, where they expressed concern over Chin'ono's arrest and his security,
Charamba accused the embassy of funding the journalist.
"Catch the cub, the lioness comes roaring mad!!! I
like the turn of events, we are now in business," Charamba said.
The Zimbabwe Union of Journalists (ZUJ) in a statement
condemned Chin'ono's arrest.
Foster Dongozi, ZUJ secretary-general said: "The Zimbabwe
Union of Journalists would like to strongly condemn the brazen attack of a
journalist by the Zimbabwean government and its security forces. Acts of
aggression against journalists such as Hopewell, who engage in investigative
journalism, are a clear sign that he is being victimised for exposing
corruption in government. We call on the government to immediately stop its
unwarranted harassment of Hopewell."
The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) said the
Constitution guarantees the right to demonstrate and free expression and the
right to information.
"We have always noted that when citizens expose
corruption, they are being good citizens and their work must be protected. When
journalists raise key human rights issues, they do so on behalf of all of us.
As a grassroots human rights advocacy group, whose members are suffering the
effects of corruption, we stand in solidarity with Jacob Ngarivhume and
Hopewell Chin'ono. We reiterate that corruption is a human rights issue."
Ngarivhume speaking to NewsDay before he was picked up by
police, vowed to press on with the July 31 March.
He said he expected over 100 000 disgruntled citizens to
join the marches in all cities, adding that marshals would handle security and
ensure protesters observe social distancing and wear face masks.
Responding to potential threats that police could crush the
demonstration, Ngarivhume said: "Through our lawyers led by Harrison
Nkomo, we have notified the police as per requirement of the Constitution that
we will be having a peaceful demonstration on July 31. We do not need to seek
clearance. We are also not going to be deterred by any form of harassment and
threats. The demo will go on."
Godfrey Tsenengamu, whose movement is backing the July 31
protests, queried why Zanu-PF was bent on crushing peaceful protests.
"It obviously exposes their hand in all the dirty
corrupt deals and looting taking place now ... We have had enough and so we are
ready to pay the price."
Tsenengamu said there was desperation to turn the march
into a physical battle between the MDC Alliance and Zanu-PF youths.
"I'm not sure if Zanu-PF youths would be that foolish
to be used as shields of corruption and looting, which corruption has also
wreaked havoc in their own lives," he said.
War veterans' leader Christopher Mutsvangwa, speaking on
Saturday at a Zanu-PF provincial co-ordinating committee meeting in Mutare said
freedom fighters and members of the security forces would deal with the
protesters.
"All the opposition and associated elements who are
thinking of organising an uprising against Zimbabwe will face the music. We are
a democratic State, any other method of political leadership change outside
elections is not acceptable," he said. Newsday
"Zimbabwe is not Sudan, Zimbabwe is not Tunisia and is
not Eastern Europe. We are a democratic country which conducts elections after
five years and elects new leadership.
"We stand to warn all elements to stop. Secondly, we
want to remind them that you will face serious consequences for organising an
uprising," he said.
"We deal with them as war veterans and other members
of the security forces. (MDC Alliance leader Nelson) Chamisa and whoever is
sponsoring you, the cohort of churches and trade unions figures, don't say we
were not warned. We don't tolerate if it is America and whoever the Western
powers, we are not scared to defend the democratic expression of our
people." Newsday
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