By Prince Njagu- The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC Alliance) has cried foul over the unlawful arrest and detention of its members which is being perpetrated by the Emmerson Mnangagwa led government.
This comes after the continued targeted arrest of its councillors and mayors by Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP).
MDC Alliance expressed their discontent over the recent unlawful arrest of Harare Mayor Jacob Mafume as well as Chitungwiza Mayor Lovemore Maiko.
“We continue to demand freedom for Mayor Jacob Mafume. Bail is a constitutional entitlement. Arresting to investigate is unlawful,” says MDC Alliance on their official Twitter page.
Eight days later and no bail has been set for Mafume. The MDC-A Harare major remains behind bars, regardless of the fact that the Zimbabwean constitution has a provision for bail to be set either pending an investigation or arrest.
Mafume is one of the many opposition members who has been arrested and put behind bars with no bail terms being set.
“Political persecution of opposition politicians and progressive citizens must end,” said MDC-Alliance on their Twitter page.
Prominent figures within the political spectrum, press and civil society have fallen victim to the ZANU PF administration, with renowned journalists like Hopewell Chin’ono also having been incarcerated this year for exposing corruption.
National police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrest of Mafume more than a week ago, but no bail has been set for the Harare Mayor and he remains in prison.
Mafume, is the MDC-A councillor for Ward 17, and was elected to the position of Harare Mayor in September 2020, following the recalling of Herbert Gomba by the MDC-T.
Several other MDC-A officials and councillors have been arrested by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), with the latest incident involving the arrest of all Chitungwiza officials during a meeting.
Arrest of all Chitungwiza officials and councillors by ZRP is being viewed as the latest act to hamstring MDC-A led local authorities by ZANU PF through the use of the police.
In a statement issued on the MDC-A Twitter page, the party said, “In the latest act to hamstring local authorities, ZRP have just arrested all Chitungwiza councillors and officials who were attending the ordinary full council meeting in chambers,”
“All except 2, of the councillors and council staff who were unlawfully arrested in a dragnet operation today while conducting council business have been released without charge. Councillors Chamutsa and Nyagondo are currently at St Marys police station. No charges yet”.
There has been a crackdown on council officials on accusation of corruption, but it is mainly targeting opposition officials.
Last week MDC-A Chitungwiza Mayor Lovemore Maiko was arrested and the party believes that all this is being done as a move to destabilise local councils after the failed move to recall the opposition mayors.
The MDC Alliance still maintains that all these moves are political and aimed at decimating the party.
Earlier last week MDC Alliance secretary for Local Government Sessel Zvidzai indicated that arrests of opposition mayors was a ZANU PF weapon to cripple local councils and his party.
“This is nothing new. It is weaponization of the courts and political persecution,” said Sessel Zvidzai the MDC Alliance secretary for Local Government.