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| Police maintained a vigilant present during the trial of Job Sikhala |
Virginia
Njovo
Njovo
MDC national youth organising secretary and Masvingo
Urban Ward 4 Councillor Godfrey Kurauone and other party activists were last
Sunday called for questioning at the Masvingo police law and order section in
connection with protests that rocked the city during the trial of MDC national
vice chairperson Job Sikhala on subversion charges.
Urban Ward 4 Councillor Godfrey Kurauone and other party activists were last
Sunday called for questioning at the Masvingo police law and order section in
connection with protests that rocked the city during the trial of MDC national
vice chairperson Job Sikhala on subversion charges.
Other opposition members who were also called for
questioning include Masvingo Urban Ward 4 Councillor Daniel Mberikunashe, MDC
Masvingo provincial administrator Peter Chigaba as well as party members Kissmaker
Mapote, Olivia Tobaiwa and Jeffryson Chitando.
questioning include Masvingo Urban Ward 4 Councillor Daniel Mberikunashe, MDC
Masvingo provincial administrator Peter Chigaba as well as party members Kissmaker
Mapote, Olivia Tobaiwa and Jeffryson Chitando.
“An unmarked and unregistered vehicle with police
officer came to my house and they demanded that I accompany them to the police
station but I refused and told them I will report there on my own.
officer came to my house and they demanded that I accompany them to the police
station but I refused and told them I will report there on my own.
“When I got there, I was interrogated for over two
hours and they made me sign a warned and cautioned statement. They accused me
of housing thousands of people on the eve of the trial. But do I have big
enough space to accommodate thousands of people?” said Chitando.
hours and they made me sign a warned and cautioned statement. They accused me
of housing thousands of people on the eve of the trial. But do I have big
enough space to accommodate thousands of people?” said Chitando.
On his own experiences, Kurauone described the police
actions as barbaric, accusing them of flagrantly displaying acts of political
partisanship.
actions as barbaric, accusing them of flagrantly displaying acts of political
partisanship.
“They interrogated me for about three hours. They
accused me of helping to organise people who demonstrated but I denied that.
They also asked me who was behind the disturbances and I told them I didn’t
know so they accused me of failing to cooperate with them. They alleged that a
police car was stoned. They also said they will charge people for malicious
damage to property, claiming that glasses at Edgars and Chicken Slice were
damaged,” said Kurauone.
accused me of helping to organise people who demonstrated but I denied that.
They also asked me who was behind the disturbances and I told them I didn’t
know so they accused me of failing to cooperate with them. They alleged that a
police car was stoned. They also said they will charge people for malicious
damage to property, claiming that glasses at Edgars and Chicken Slice were
damaged,” said Kurauone.
Zimbabwe lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) members
Collen Maboke and Martin Mureri were active in giving support to the activists.
Collen Maboke and Martin Mureri were active in giving support to the activists.
.
