MDC-T supporters protests at SA Embassy in Pretoria

The MDC-T Youth Assembly in South Africa held a demonstration at the Zimbabwe Embassy in Pretoria on Friday demanding, among other things, the "immediate and unconditional" release of their National Youth Chairperson Solomon Madzore and 28 others, accused of killing a Glen View cop.

Giyani Dube, chairman of the MDC-T South Africa Youth Assembly, described the event as a "big success" and praised the youths who participated as "brave and courageous" . He said they were surprised when the ambassador himself came out to invite them in for a quick chat about their demands.

"We did not get into detailed discussions about our demands with the ambassador because our mission was to picket the Zim authorities over several issues. But we made a date with him to come back on September 21 for a meeting," Dube said.

The youths are also demanding that Zimbabweans outside the country be allowed to vote, dismissing proposals in the new draft constitution that deny the Diaspora the right to participate in elections.

"As Zimbabweans in South Africa we demand a Diaspora vote. SADC citizens in other countries are able to vote, no matter where they live in the world. We had expected this in the new constitution and are disappointed. We demand that we participate in the referendum and the coming elections," Dube explained.

Zanu-PF's insistence on renegotiating the draft charter produced by COPAC also took centre stage at the demonstration. Dube said: "We are calling on Robert Mugabe to stop these endless negotiations and let Zimbabweans decide in a referendum."

Dube reiterated the position of the MDC-T that Zanu-PF had been fully represented in the negotiations over the draft charter and there was no reason to discard the version of the constitution that was agreed to by all parties.

The youths are also demanding better quality of service from the embassy in Pretoria. "The embassy has not been serving people with dignity. It has been partisan in assisting those who belong to Zanu-PF. Civil servants work for the everyone, regardless of their political affiliation," Dube said.

Madzore and 28 other MDC-T officials and activists are accused of killing police officer Petros Mutedza in a Glen view pub last year. The police claim the cop died after a brawl with MDC-T members who conducted an illegal meeting at the pub.

But the MDC-T insists the charges were fabricated as part of a Zanu-PF campaign to destabilize their structures. They say most of the accused are officials within the party, and many have documented evidence that proves they were not at the scene when Mutedza was killed.

The trial has been suspended, pending the recovery of one of the accused who is ill and receiving treatment at a private hospital. The MDC-T say this is being used as an excuse to delay the release of their members.