Tsunga arrested for taking part in ‘illegal’ procession

Politics
RENOWNED human rights lawyer and MDC-T parliamentary candidate for Chikanga-Dangamvura constituency, Arnold Tsunga together with 50 party supporters were on Friday arrested for participating in an illegal procession.

RENOWNED human rights lawyer and MDC-T parliamentary candidate for Chikanga-Dangamvura constituency, Arnold Tsunga together with 50 party supporters were on Friday arrested for participating in an illegal procession.

REPORT BY OBEY MANAYITI

They were released yesterday after paying US$20 admission of guilty fine. They spent one night in police custody.

Tsunga and some party supporters were detained at Dangamvura Police Station while the others were at Mutare Central Police station.

Passmore Nyabureba, who was representing the 50, said his clients were accused of participating in a procession with about four vehicles in Dangamvura Ward 6 without authorisation from police.

“The procession was diverted by anti-riot police at around 4pm and they were diverted to Dangamvura Police station where police said they wanted to talk to them and release them,” said Nyabureba. “When I arrived there in the company of Tinoziva Bere, we were told they were charged with participating in a procession without authorisation.

He added: “However, when they were detained, the report record book and detention book indicated they were charged with criminal nuisance.”

Party’s spokesperson, Douglas Mwonzora slammed the arrest saying police were now acting in a partisan manner.

“The arrest of MDC officials and candidates is a plot by Zanu PF to try and further the divisions within the MDC. We see no reason in particular why Mr Tsunga was arrested by the police. The fact of the matter is that he was arrested by pro-Zanu PF police,” said Mwonzora.

Tsunga together with former MP, Giles Mutsekwa both filed papers to represent MDC-T in the elections slated for July 31.

The MDC-T has failed to be decisive on who should represent the party.

Efforts to get a comment from the police were fruitless yesterday but they have on several occasions denied being partisan.