No Visits For Arrested MDC Leaders At Hwahwa
25 January 2019
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Correspondent|OPPOSITION Movement for Democratic Change legislators Amos Chibaya (Mkoba), Settlement Chikwinya (Mbizo), Lloyd Mukapiko (Redcliff), and Livingstone Chimina (Chiwundura) are set to spend a second straight weekend in prison after their trial was pushed to next Mon

Prison authorities today blocked MDC officials from visiting the legislators who are locked up at Hwahwa Prison outside Gweru.

When the MPs appeared in court early this week, they were remanded in custody to 28 January as the State asked for more time to locate its witnesses. 

Chibaya and Chikwinya are part of the 12 MDC MPs who are currently in custody over accusations of inciting citizens to engage in violent protests on the 14th of January.

Amos Chibaya (Mkoba), Settlement Chikwinya (Mbizo), Winnie Kankuni (Sunningdale), Lloyd Mukapiko (Redcliff), Rusty Markham (Harare North) and Livingston Chimina (Chiwundura) are some of the MDC MPs known to have been arrested.

MDC deputy Treasurer-General Chalton Hwende said on Friday: “Our Chief Whips were today denied the chance to see our fellow MPs who are in custody at HwaHwa prison.

“The memo at the prison limits visits for Hon Chibaya, Hon Chimina, Hon Mkapiko, Hon Chikwinya to once in every seven days.”

MDC Secretary-General Douglas Mwonzora said they had just finished compiling their statistics regarding the actual number of party officials in prison and those in hiding.

“We have just finished compiling our interim report on the on the gross human rights violations by the state. According to the report 12 people were killed while a total of 758 were arbitrarily arrested. A total of 5 MPs and 9 Councillors were arrested,” Mwonzora said in a statement.

Several legislators, including leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Tabitha Khumalo, Godfrey Sithole (Chitungwiza North), Job Sikhala (Zengeza West), Maxwell Mavhunga (Chitungwiza South), Chalton Hwende (Kuwadzana East), Happymore Chidziva (Highfield West), Joana Mamombe (Harare West) and Mashonaland West Senator Voice Chinake, are in hiding.

MDC chief whip in the National Assembly, Prosper Mutseyami, yesterday said that the Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House meeting today would tackle issues to do with victimisation of their members, whom he said were being brutalised, tortured and refused treatment.

MDC Chief Whip Prosper Mutseyami spent hours on end trying to get access to MDC MPs at HwaHwa today. He could not succeed as prison authorities stood their ground.

Meanwhile, South African opposition Democratic Alliance leader Mmusi Maimane has condemned the use of violence by state security organs to quell protests.

“I just had a conversation with leaders of opposition in Zimbabwe. I condemn the use of violence against citizens by the Zanu-PF regime. We should stand against prosecution and arrest of opposition leaders,” Maimane said.

He also added his voice to the growing calls for South Africa to assist Zimbabwe, but was quick to say such assistance must be humanitarian and not financial.

“Ultimately, South Africa must offer humanitarian help not help fund Zanu-PF and Emmerson Mnangagwa.”