News / National
BREAKING: Top MDC leader arrested at the airport
05 Mar 2019 at 05:07hrs | Views
The opposition Movement for Democratic Change has announced that its Treasurer General Charlton Hwende has been arrested upon landing at the Robert Mugabe International airport.
"Deputy Treasurer General and MP for Kuwadzana East constituency, Hon. Charlton Hwende has been arrested at Robert Mugabe International Airport on his way back from Namibia." MDC said.
Hwende's arrest comes barely 3 days after the arrest of Harare West MP Joana Mamombe who is accused of treason.
Reports in Namibia allege that Hwende approached the Inspector-General of the Namibian Police Sebastian Ndeitunga seeking asylum. Hwende is on the police wanted list in connection with the #ShutDownZimbabwe protests.
In a report in the New Era newspaper, Hwende's lawyer Norman Tjombe wrote to the Namibian police chief requesting protection "against unlawful abduction and the possible rendition to Zimbabwe at the hands of Central Intelligence Organisation". Tjombe claimed his client was in the country to visit relatives although there are fears he might be arrested if he returns to Zimbabwe.
Bulawayo24 is in possesion of a letter written to the Namibian Police's Inspector General on Tuesday by his lawyer Norman Tjombe.
"In the course of January 2019, our client was informed, through reliable sources, that members of the Zimbabwean intelligence agency, namely the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) travelled to Namibia to abduct and rendition him to Zimbabwe where he is apparently wanted for treason, incitement to commit public violence and other charges," read the letter.
"According to the information, the members of the CIO already arrived in Namibia on or before 28 January 2019."
In the letter, Hwende's lawyers alleged that armed security officers had surrounded the homes of senior officials and MDC legislators.
Hwende claims there was a list in which his name appears of wanted persons and claims he would not receive a fair trial in Zimbabwe.
"We accordingly seek the protection of our client against what will be an unlawful abduction and the possible rendition of our client to Zimbabwe at the hands of the Zimbabwean Central Intelligence Organisation," the lawyer wrote.
Commenting on the arrest Human Rights lawyer Dr Pedzisayi Ruhanya said, "Now, the arrest of Charlton Hwende is clearly an MDC congress matter. A clear pattern is now emerging. Chamisa and Biti loyalists must rot in jail. The party/state/military complex at work."
More to follow…
"Deputy Treasurer General and MP for Kuwadzana East constituency, Hon. Charlton Hwende has been arrested at Robert Mugabe International Airport on his way back from Namibia." MDC said.
Hwende's arrest comes barely 3 days after the arrest of Harare West MP Joana Mamombe who is accused of treason.
Reports in Namibia allege that Hwende approached the Inspector-General of the Namibian Police Sebastian Ndeitunga seeking asylum. Hwende is on the police wanted list in connection with the #ShutDownZimbabwe protests.
In a report in the New Era newspaper, Hwende's lawyer Norman Tjombe wrote to the Namibian police chief requesting protection "against unlawful abduction and the possible rendition to Zimbabwe at the hands of Central Intelligence Organisation". Tjombe claimed his client was in the country to visit relatives although there are fears he might be arrested if he returns to Zimbabwe.
Bulawayo24 is in possesion of a letter written to the Namibian Police's Inspector General on Tuesday by his lawyer Norman Tjombe.
"In the course of January 2019, our client was informed, through reliable sources, that members of the Zimbabwean intelligence agency, namely the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) travelled to Namibia to abduct and rendition him to Zimbabwe where he is apparently wanted for treason, incitement to commit public violence and other charges," read the letter.
"According to the information, the members of the CIO already arrived in Namibia on or before 28 January 2019."
In the letter, Hwende's lawyers alleged that armed security officers had surrounded the homes of senior officials and MDC legislators.
Hwende claims there was a list in which his name appears of wanted persons and claims he would not receive a fair trial in Zimbabwe.
"We accordingly seek the protection of our client against what will be an unlawful abduction and the possible rendition of our client to Zimbabwe at the hands of the Zimbabwean Central Intelligence Organisation," the lawyer wrote.
Commenting on the arrest Human Rights lawyer Dr Pedzisayi Ruhanya said, "Now, the arrest of Charlton Hwende is clearly an MDC congress matter. A clear pattern is now emerging. Chamisa and Biti loyalists must rot in jail. The party/state/military complex at work."
More to follow…
Source - Byo24News
