Anti-riot officers besieged Machinguta’s house, stopped a
private internal party meeting and barricaded the road leading to his
residence.
Machingauta, his wife, children and other party members
were beaten before arrest. There were no charges laid against the arrested
persons who were taken to Budiriro 2 Police Station and kept in cells.
Baton-wielding officers turned the zone into a no-go-area,
with residents forced to use alternative routes home.
CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere confirmed the incident.
“Zanu PF knows they can never win a free and fair election
in Zimbabwe,” Mahere said.
“This was a private, internal meeting. The Maintenance of
Order and Peace Act does not apply.
“That law only applies to public meetings in a public place.
Zanu PF must stop abusing the police to stifle competition.”
Mahere revealed that lawyer Kudzai Kadzere, who was rendering legal assistance to the
arrested CCC members, was also arrested and was “badly” beaten.
She said the charges against Kadzere were unclear.
Police confirmed the arrests of members of the Citizens
Coalition for Change, Zimbabwe’s main opposition political party, and said a
detailed statement would be released following investigations.
“It was an unsanctioned gathering according to the local
authority, who is the officer commanding Budiriro,” police spokesperson Paul
Nyathi said.
“I am receiving numerous reports that people were beaten,
we will release a full statement in due course.”
Police allegedly fired teargas at the gathering, and beat
up several opposition members before they were bundled into a police truck,
Mahere added.
Zimbabwean law requires political parties to notify
authorities two weeks before holding a political meeting.
“Zanu PF must stop abusing the police to stifle
competition,” Mahere said.
She alleged that over 60 CCC meetings had been
unconstitutionally banned since the formation of the party a year ago.
Mahere said this happened in areas that include Gokwe
Kabuyuni, Gutu, Chirumhanzu, Murewa, Seke, Birchenough, Insiza, Matobo, Binga,
Hwedza, UMP, Ngundu, Marondera, Chipinge, Kariba, Chihota and Mahusekwa.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa is accused of using security
forces such as the police and the military as well as draconian laws to close down the democratic space.
CCC, whose leader Nelson Chamisa, is expected to challenge
Mnangagwa in this year’s elections has borne the brunt of the clampdown while
other opposition parties are allowed to organise their programmes without
interference from the police. Standard
* Additional reporting by Reuters
0 comments:
Post a Comment