January 26, 2005
The MDC Member of Parliament for Makokoba Constituency, Thokozani Khupe was this morning arrested together with 100 members of the three ward structures in her constituency. among those arrested are two councillors Peter Nyathi, Ward 10 and amen Mpofu Ward 2. Hon Khupe was having a strategic meeting with members of her ward structures and councillors at her restaurant when the police's riot squad pounced on them. They are currently detained at Bulawayo Central police station and are being charged under (POSa) for holding an illegal meeting although it is evident that this was a private meeting. Lawyer Job Sibanda who can be reached on 091229941 is attending to the matter.
The details are that three police details arrived at the planning meeting and demanded to attend the private planning meeting. Khuphe allowed them. The meeting proceeded but after about 30 minutes riot police in full gear arrived at the meeting and told everyone at the meeting that they were under arrest. They were all loaded in police vehicles and taken to Bulawayo Central police Station.
In a separate incident MDC candidate for Insiza Siyabonga Malandu has reported that three MDC youths Richard Ncube and two Dube brothers were abducted by Zanu PF candidate andrew Langa who is also the Deputy Minister of Transport, tortured and handed over to the police. They are currently being held at Filabusi Police Station. The police officer at Filabusi, assistant Inspector Sibanda upon being asked what charge was being preferred on the three said he did not know and he would have to inquire from andrew Langa. Langa had himself had earlier blocked the road to prevent Malandu from entering the Voter Inspection Centre at avoca Business Centre. He ordered all the people in Malandu's car to disembark and when they refused to take his orders he fired 10 shots in the air in a bid to intimidate them. This happened in the presence of the police who did not lift a finger to arrest him. Instead they only pleaded with him to let the MDC candidate go away. Malandu reported the matte!
r to the Gwanda Police Station but they refused to take down the report and referred him back to Filabusi.
The political playing field remains very flawed. We would like to bring it to the attention of the SaDC leaders that in many instances the situation is deteriorating. The police continue to interfere with the MDC's political meetings and thus prevent fair campaigning. They also continue to act in complicity with the Zanu PF officials, neglecting their role of fairness and neutrality. The selective application of the law is deepening. all these factors will have a large bearing in the decision of the MDC National Council on whether to participate or not. We continue to implore the regime and the SaDC leaders to continue to push for a path that will afford the people of Zimbabwe a free and fair election to bring about a lasting solution to the crisis.
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