FORMER Hurungwe West legislator Temba Mliswa and 24 members of his Youth Advocacy for Reform and Democracy (Yard) pressure group were arrested in Esigodini, Matabeleland South province, yesterday for allegedly holding an unsanctioned public meeting. BY SINDISO DUBE
Mliswa’s lawyer and MDC-T secretary-general Douglas Mwonzora confirmed the arrests.
“Cde Mliswa is currently in police custody together with 24 others after being arrested here in Esigodini on allegations that they were having an unsanctioned meeting. They are yet to be charged. We are still trying to talk to the police to secure their release,” he said.
Yard spokesperson Tinotenda Mhungu claimed the arrests were instigated by a Zanu PF councillor identified as Patson Sibanda, who allegedly mobilised police and ruling party youths to disrupt the meeting.
“Councillor Patson Sibanda burst into a private property where Yard had a district executive meeting with members from the national executive available. The presence of the founder of Yard, Temba Mliswa, prompted the disruption by the councillor,” Mhungu, who was among the arrested activists, said.
“The councillor mobilised youths from his political party and members of the police, demanding that the law enforcers arrest the Yard members and abruptly stop the meeting.”
Matabeleland South provincial police spokesperson Philisani Ndebele could not be reached for comment.
