UPDATE: Soldiers, Police Take 12 MDC-A Officials At Gunpoint
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Opposition MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa Saturday claimed soldiers and police officers took 12 members of the party’s Mashonaland West leadership at gunpoint.
The twelve officials are Ralph Magunje, Tawanda Bvumo, Emmanuel Chinanzvavana, Edward Dzeka, Blessing Mandava, Kuda Mandishona, Kudakwashe Chigumo, Richard Vitirinyu Wilson Makanyaire, Abigail Usai Collen Mapfumo, and Pauline Sibanda.
They were arrested for unlawful gathering in contravention of Covid-19 lockdown regulations.
They were rrested at the opposition party’s Chinhoyi offices in Mzari suburb, where they were preparing to hold a strategic meeting.
They are part of the party’s Mashonaland West provincial administrative committee (PAC).
MDC Alliance provincial spokesperson, Blessing Mandava described the arrests as unlawful and vowed the arrests would not dampen their resolve to fight for the restoration of good governance in the country. Mandaza said:
We were under the maximum number of participants allowed per gathering at law…All the PAC members are in high spirits and will not relent nor surrender to fight the regime and its proxies.
No matter what happens, we shall carry the torch of the MDC Alliance higher. Chinhoyi is where all the battles begin. The flame of change must rage on.
NewZimbabwe.com reports that the officials were detained at Chinhoyi Central Police where relatives and friends could be seen by our news crew bringing food and clothing items for the detainees.
The party claimed yesterday that the 12 were taken at gunpoint by soldiers adding that they were not immediately told why they were seized by the military or what charges they’re facing.
More: NewZimbabwe.com