News / Regional
How war vets leaders were arrested
28 Jul 2016 at 17:12hrs | Views
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights have taken a bold rare stance of representing under siege war veterans
War veterans have a history of violating human rights.
However, the liberation fighters leadership is facing "persecution" and two have been arrested in past 24 hours.
Douglas Mahiya who is the veteran's spokesperson was arrested Wednesday followed by secretary -general Victor Matemadanda today.
They are likely to be charged with subverting a constitutionally-elected government.
Human rights lawyers issued a statement giving a hint as to how their clients where arrested.
Below is the statement :
ON the afternoon of 27 July 2016, the Secretary for Information and Publicity of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) Douglas Mahiya presented himself at Harare Central police Station Law and Order section. He had been called in for questioning.
He was subsequently arrested and information presently at hand is that the police are charging him with violating section 22 – (subverting a constitutional government) and/or section 33 (insulting the office of the President) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
On the same evening, a group of about 13 men who identified themselves as police officers descended at his Chitungwiza home and proceeded to search the premises, purportedly in terms of a search warrant.
In the early hours of the morning of 28 July 2016, five individuals picked up the ZNLWVA Secretary General Victor Matemadanda from his home in Gokwe. They indicated that they were transporting him to Harare Central Law and Order section. His whereabouts are currently undetermined, as are the charges or allegations against him.
Further information will follow as developments arise.
War veterans have a history of violating human rights.
However, the liberation fighters leadership is facing "persecution" and two have been arrested in past 24 hours.
Douglas Mahiya who is the veteran's spokesperson was arrested Wednesday followed by secretary -general Victor Matemadanda today.
They are likely to be charged with subverting a constitutionally-elected government.
Human rights lawyers issued a statement giving a hint as to how their clients where arrested.
Below is the statement :
ON the afternoon of 27 July 2016, the Secretary for Information and Publicity of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans Association (ZNLWVA) Douglas Mahiya presented himself at Harare Central police Station Law and Order section. He had been called in for questioning.
He was subsequently arrested and information presently at hand is that the police are charging him with violating section 22 – (subverting a constitutional government) and/or section 33 (insulting the office of the President) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act.
On the same evening, a group of about 13 men who identified themselves as police officers descended at his Chitungwiza home and proceeded to search the premises, purportedly in terms of a search warrant.
In the early hours of the morning of 28 July 2016, five individuals picked up the ZNLWVA Secretary General Victor Matemadanda from his home in Gokwe. They indicated that they were transporting him to Harare Central Law and Order section. His whereabouts are currently undetermined, as are the charges or allegations against him.
Further information will follow as developments arise.
Source - Byo24News
