The Zimbabwe Republic Police Monday raided the offices of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change formation led by Morgan Tsvangirai arresting 21 party activists, staff and one lawmaker on allegations of assaulting a Zanu PF supporter in Harare at the weekend. Indications are that only one remains in police custody in connection with another Harare incident.
Party secretary general, Douglas Mwonzora, told journalists that police told them they wanted the activists to appear on an identification parade so that the assault victim could identify his attackers.
Mwonzora said armed police in eight trucks stormed the Harvest Houses offices in the morning and searched all the offices, including Tsvangirai’s offices before rounding up the workers.
He said the raid at the MDC-T offices was meant to slow down the activities of the party and frustrate its many programs, which include a massive recruitment of members countrywide and restructuring of the party’s structures.
Mwonzora said the party has notified police of its poverty alleviation march on April 7th to protest President Mugabe’s recent announcement that the country had lost $15 billion worth of diamonds through corruption.
Police spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charamba, was not answering her mobile phone.
Political violence has been on the increase over the last few weeks with the MDC-T and the recently launched Zimbabwe People First facing most of the violence.
MDC-T rallies in Mashonaland East were disrupted at the weekend while Zimbabwe People First gatherings faced the same fate in the in Harare two weeks ago.-voa
