Zanu PF party failed to garner a two-thirds majority it had
in the Ninth Parliament after amassing 136 of the 209 contested National
Assembly seats, with the CCC snatching 73. One National Assembly seat is yet to
be contested after one of the contestants died just before last month’s polls.
In an interview yesterday, CCC spokesperson Promise
Mkwananzi said his party was aware of Zanu PF’s shenanigans to gain two-thirds
in Parliament.
“We know that we are under siege. What we don’t know is
whether it’s vindictiveness and bitterness by [President Emmerson] Mnangagwa
because people did not vote for him or it’s in anticipation of a fresh
election,” he said.
“It appears that Mnangagwa is now in the mode for a fresh
election and wants to demobilise and decimate our structures well beforehand as
they did during the 2008 run-off.”
However, Zanu PF acting information director Farai Marapira
dismissed the allegations saying the arrests were part of routine law
enforcement operations which had nothing to do with politics.
He said those arrested would have been involved in criminal
activities and had to be brought to justice.
“Opposition members should be mature to know that they are
not above the laws of the land. They should not act with impunity and respect
the electorate that voted them into power. They should not try to pre-empty
court processes. Let the law take its course,” he said.
Opposition legislator Maureen Kademaunga (Sunningdale,
Harare) was arrested on Tuesday on attempted murder and malicious damage to
property charges, but the charges were dropped before she appeared in court
yesterday.
Another CCC legislator Willard Madzimbamuto (Seke) was
called for interviews by the Criminal Investigation Department before being
made to sign a warned and cautioned statement.
Grandmore Hakata (Glen View South), yet another CCC
parliamentarian, was arraigned before the courts facing charges of disorderly
conduct and violating provisions of the Maintenance of Order and Peace Act
after he was arrested for allegedly organising a roadshow rally.
There are also fears that the ruling Zanu PF is targeting
legislators in Mabvuku and Epworth constituencies.
“So far three CCC legislators, Gladmore Hakata, Maureen
Kademaunga and Willard Madzimbamuto are facing legal troubles. The regime is
also targeting Epworth and Mabvuku constituencies,” a source told NewsDay
yesterday. Newsday
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