News / National
MDC-T youths demand the release of their chairperson
20 Jan 2012 at 13:58hrs | Views
Hundreds of MDC-T Youth Assembly members today held a march in central Masvingo Town demanding the "immediate and unconditional" release of its chairperson, Solomon Madzore and other party members currently languishing in remand prison on various charges.
The demonstrators were also calling for sweeping changes in the judiciary system.
The march started from Main Street and ended at the Civic Centre where National Youth Assembly leaders addressed the youths and stressed the need for the immediate release of Madzore who was arrested last year on charges of taking part in the murder of a policeman in Glen View, Harare.
The youths moved around the city centre wielding placards denouncing Johannes Tomana, the Attorney-General and Zanu PF politicians for using the courts to persecute and not prosecute MDC-T members, the independent media and civic society members.
Clifford Hlatywayo, the Youth Assembly spokesperson described the march as a success and that the message was "loud and clear".
"We are demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Solomon Madzore and seven other MDC members. They are innocent and they deserve to enjoy their freedom and democratic rights," said Hlatywayo.
"That is our point and that is why we have decided to take to the streets to air our grievances. Five of them are at Harare Remand Prison while three including Madzore are at Chikurubi Maximum Prison. As the Youth Assembly we are greatly disturbed by their continued illegal detention," added the Youth Assembly chairperson.
Hlatywayo said the demonstrations will be spread throughout the country calling for wholesale changes in the judiciary system and took a swipe at Zanu PF for politicising the system.
"The Youth Assembly is unhappy with how the judiciary system is operating because there is a partisan system that is willing to be used by Zanu PF to trample on the will of the people. It is clear that the matter has traceable political connotations and it is worrying to note that Tomana and his officers are battling to stifle the democratic course. Zanu PF is in state of panic and the former ruling party through State security agents are keen to destabilise the MDC Youth Assembly ahead of elections," said Hlatywayo.
"However, we are not deterred by the setbacks and we will continue to soldier on because we are to pursue the democratic course of justice," said Hlatywayo.
He castigated the selective application of the justice in the country adding that Zanu PF was unconstitutionally dabbling in the courts and added that Tomana and former ruling party loyalists must immediately relinquish their posts.
Other MDC members still in custody are, Rebecca Mafikeni, Yvonne Musarurwa, Phineas Nhatarikwa, Stanford Mangwiro, Councillor Tungamirai Madzokere of Ward 32, Glen View and brothers Lazarus and Stanford Maengahama.
The demonstrators were also calling for sweeping changes in the judiciary system.
The march started from Main Street and ended at the Civic Centre where National Youth Assembly leaders addressed the youths and stressed the need for the immediate release of Madzore who was arrested last year on charges of taking part in the murder of a policeman in Glen View, Harare.
The youths moved around the city centre wielding placards denouncing Johannes Tomana, the Attorney-General and Zanu PF politicians for using the courts to persecute and not prosecute MDC-T members, the independent media and civic society members.
Clifford Hlatywayo, the Youth Assembly spokesperson described the march as a success and that the message was "loud and clear".
"We are demanding the immediate and unconditional release of Solomon Madzore and seven other MDC members. They are innocent and they deserve to enjoy their freedom and democratic rights," said Hlatywayo.
"That is our point and that is why we have decided to take to the streets to air our grievances. Five of them are at Harare Remand Prison while three including Madzore are at Chikurubi Maximum Prison. As the Youth Assembly we are greatly disturbed by their continued illegal detention," added the Youth Assembly chairperson.
Hlatywayo said the demonstrations will be spread throughout the country calling for wholesale changes in the judiciary system and took a swipe at Zanu PF for politicising the system.
"The Youth Assembly is unhappy with how the judiciary system is operating because there is a partisan system that is willing to be used by Zanu PF to trample on the will of the people. It is clear that the matter has traceable political connotations and it is worrying to note that Tomana and his officers are battling to stifle the democratic course. Zanu PF is in state of panic and the former ruling party through State security agents are keen to destabilise the MDC Youth Assembly ahead of elections," said Hlatywayo.
"However, we are not deterred by the setbacks and we will continue to soldier on because we are to pursue the democratic course of justice," said Hlatywayo.
He castigated the selective application of the justice in the country adding that Zanu PF was unconstitutionally dabbling in the courts and added that Tomana and former ruling party loyalists must immediately relinquish their posts.
Other MDC members still in custody are, Rebecca Mafikeni, Yvonne Musarurwa, Phineas Nhatarikwa, Stanford Mangwiro, Councillor Tungamirai Madzokere of Ward 32, Glen View and brothers Lazarus and Stanford Maengahama.
Source - Byo24News
