MDC official arrested over sanctions petition
Zanu PF supporters are reportedly coercing villagers in various parts of the country to sign the anti-sanctions petition, with reports that those resisting were being arrested.
The Welshman Ncube-led MDC party said some of its members in Mashonaland Central, Midlands, Mashonaland East, Manicaland, Masvingo and Mashonaland West provinces were being arrested or attacked for refusing to sign the petition.
“Simon Waiton, the MDC Muzarabani South chairperson, has been arrested by police after resisting to sign the anti-sanctions petition and is being held at Centenary Police Station,” said the MDC’s deputy spokesman, Kurauone Chihwayi.
However, police national spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena denied the allegations.
“There is nothing like that. It’s absurd,” said Bvudzijena.
“I can confidently say it’s not true, because not signing the petition is not a crime. That is a voluntary issue and no one can be arrested for not signing. If an MDC official was arrested, it could be for other reasons,” he said.
Meanwhile, reports from Bulawayo yesterday said Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khuphe’s driver was arrested on Wednesday and was, as of yesterday, being held at Tshabalala Police Station for allegedly denouncing the anti-sanctions petition.
Witness Dube, Khupe’s personal driver, was arrested at Nkulumane Shopping Complex by police after he was overheard allegedly saying Zanu PF was wasting resources setting up anti-sanctions signing centres.
Police who arrested Dube were manning an anti-sanctions signing point at the shopping complex.
Lizwe Jamela, of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, who is representing Dube, confirmed the arrest, saying: “Police are saying that his case should be referred to the Law and Order Section at Bulawayo Central Police Station.
“They are saying they are still investigating the matter and have not preferred any charges on Dube who is detained at Tshabalala Police Station,” Jamela said.
The police are reportedly accusing Dube of attempting to incite Zimbabweans to sabotage the programme, saying his comments were likely to result in public demonstrations against the anti-sanctions campaign.
The MDC-T has also alleged Zanu PF has ordered traditional leaders to ensure people under their jurisdiction sign the petition or risk losing their allowances.
MDC-T spokesman Nelson Chamisa said the anti-sanctions petition had brought a lot of suffering to non-Zanu PF supporters as they were being force-marched to the signing centres.
“Even during the provincial launches, in areas like Midlands and Manicaland, shops were closed and people were forced to attend. In rural areas, traditional leaders such as village heads and chiefs are being forced to ensure that people sign the petition. It’s tough out there,” he said.
President Robert Mugabe officially launched the anti-sanctions petition on March 2 and his party aims to raise more than two million signatures.
The party plans to send the petition to embassies of countries which have imposed travel restrictions on President Mugabe and members of his inner circle accused of committing human rights violations.
The two MDCs have however refused to take part in the programme on the grounds that it is a Zanu PF project.
“Simon Waiton, the MDC Muzarabani South chairperson, has been arrested by police after resisting to sign the anti-sanctions petition and is being held at Centenary Police Station,” said the MDC’s deputy spokesman, Kurauone Chihwayi.
However, police national spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena denied the allegations.
“There is nothing like that. It’s absurd,” said Bvudzijena.
“I can confidently say it’s not true, because not signing the petition is not a crime. That is a voluntary issue and no one can be arrested for not signing. If an MDC official was arrested, it could be for other reasons,” he said.
Meanwhile, reports from Bulawayo yesterday said Deputy Prime Minister Thokozani Khuphe’s driver was arrested on Wednesday and was, as of yesterday, being held at Tshabalala Police Station for allegedly denouncing the anti-sanctions petition.
Witness Dube, Khupe’s personal driver, was arrested at Nkulumane Shopping Complex by police after he was overheard allegedly saying Zanu PF was wasting resources setting up anti-sanctions signing centres.
Police who arrested Dube were manning an anti-sanctions signing point at the shopping complex.
Lizwe Jamela, of the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, who is representing Dube, confirmed the arrest, saying: “Police are saying that his case should be referred to the Law and Order Section at Bulawayo Central Police Station.
“They are saying they are still investigating the matter and have not preferred any charges on Dube who is detained at Tshabalala Police Station,” Jamela said.
The police are reportedly accusing Dube of attempting to incite Zimbabweans to sabotage the programme, saying his comments were likely to result in public demonstrations against the anti-sanctions campaign.
The MDC-T has also alleged Zanu PF has ordered traditional leaders to ensure people under their jurisdiction sign the petition or risk losing their allowances.
MDC-T spokesman Nelson Chamisa said the anti-sanctions petition had brought a lot of suffering to non-Zanu PF supporters as they were being force-marched to the signing centres.
“Even during the provincial launches, in areas like Midlands and Manicaland, shops were closed and people were forced to attend. In rural areas, traditional leaders such as village heads and chiefs are being forced to ensure that people sign the petition. It’s tough out there,” he said.
President Robert Mugabe officially launched the anti-sanctions petition on March 2 and his party aims to raise more than two million signatures.
The party plans to send the petition to embassies of countries which have imposed travel restrictions on President Mugabe and members of his inner circle accused of committing human rights violations.
The two MDCs have however refused to take part in the programme on the grounds that it is a Zanu PF project.
