The United States embassy in Harare has condemned the government of Zimbabwe’s use of the military to seize offices that were being used by the opposition MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa.
A group of youths aligned to Thokozani Khupe’s MDC and backed by members of the country’s armed forces on Thursday night seized Morgan Richard Tsvangirai (MRT) House, formerly Harvest House in central Harare.
In a statement, the US embassy condemned the Zimbabwe government for politicising security forces to target opposition parties. The statement posted on Twitter read:
We are dismayed by the politicized use of security forces to take over the headquarters of an opposition party and arrest its members.
A healthy democracy requires healthy opposition parties. #PoliticalArrests #AHouseStolen
Meanwhile, police on Friday afternoon arrested six MDC Alliance officials who had gone to MRT House.
The six are the party’s deputy presidents Tendai Biti and Lynette Karenyi-Kore, deputy International Relations secretary Lovemore Chinoputsa, deputy secretary-general David Chimhini, Vongai Tome and secretary for international relations, Gladys Hlatywayo.