By Terrence Mawawa Masvingo|Police details and suspected state security agents last week raided MDC Masvingo Urban youth chairperson Peace Mapope’s house accusing him of masterminding the demonstration against President Robert Mugabe’s birthday bash.
 
The police with the help of state security agents are secretly trailing individuals suspected of taking part in the demo.
 
ZimEye.com is reliably informed the police in the company of suspected CIO operatives, searched Mapope’s house claiming he was hiding guns and explosives. He was taken to Masvingo Central Police Station where he was detained for more than 24 hours.
 
MDC national youth chairperson Happymore Chidziva confirmed Mapope’s arrest and condemned the police and the CIO for ‘acting like Zanu PF political commissars’.
“It is true Masvingo Urban youth chairman Peace Mapope was arrested by the police with the help of state security agents.They accused him of concealing guns and dangerous explosives -but we are not intimidated at all.We will keep on fighting for social justice.They released Mapope after failing to come up with tangible facts to prosecute him.All the same it is a passing phase because Zanu PF is in a state of panic,”said Chidziva.
 
Masvingo Police spokesperson Inspector Charity Mazula said she was locked up in a series of meetings adding she was not in a position to comment on the matter.
 
MDC provincial spokesperson Dust Zivhave condemned the incident while the party’s national spokesperson Obert Gutu said the protests reflected the mood of the youths tired of being exploited by Mugabe and his Zanu PF party.
 
It is understood CIO operatives and the police are secretly trailing targeted individuals thought to be part of the MDC youths who took to the streets protesting against Mugabe’s birthday.
 
“We are now living in fear because we do not know what will happen to us. We are seeing suspicious looking individuals around our home area. Strange faces are seen around our house during odd hours,” said an MDC Youth Assembly member (name withheld).