More MDC leaders arrested

The opposition MDC has reported that Member of Parliament Settlement Chikwinya was arrested on Friday while the trial of Mkoba MP Amos Chibaya was fast tracked.

They stand accused of inciting public violence after the violent protests that rocked the country on Monday.

The MDC has condemned the abuse of justice system by ZANU PF officials including Vice President Constantino Dominic Nyikadzino Chiwenga who is accused of causing the release of ZANU PF Youth leader Godfrey Gomwe who was accused of leading in vandalizing property.

Find the MDC Full statement below:

The MDC notes with concern the continious harrassmment of party members by the ZANUPF government.

Today more leaders have been arrested on trumped up charges of inciting violence.

Hon Settlement Chikwinya was arrested today while a fast tracked trial has been suspiciously commenced against Hon Amos Chibaya and Hon Chiminya.

This conduct is unconstitutional, every citizen has the right to due process and a fair trial including adequate time to prepare a. defence.

We have seen the past few days being dominated by cases of rushed convictions and some strange sentences following the convictions including a five year jail term for a cooked charge of violent conduct.

We urge the government to end persecution of MDC  members forthwith, all trumped up charges  must be dropped and investigations of killings must be instituted.

Then ploy to use trumped up charges as a tool to weaken the MDC will not work.

We are aware that ZANUPF through its highest leaders including Chiwenga forced the police to release Gone who had been charged for the murder of two individuals in Budiriro this should be the focus of investigations, the idea of using state institutions for partisan witch hunts paints a bad picture on Zimbabwe.

MDC Communications Department