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NCA members to go back to the streets to press for the release of arrested cadres
National Constitutional Assembly (NCA)
July 14, 2006

The NCA is deeply worried and concerned at the manner in which police continues to detain its members who were unlawfully detained members after they peacefully demonstrated on Wednesday, 12 July 2006.

In Harare, 128 still remain detained at Harare Central police station. The arrested include four women with infants on their backs. Only thirty minutes ago, police were still preparing a docket for the arrested NCA members' case. The police only started preparing the docket after NCA members refused to pay fines, pointing out that they are not guilt in any way. We agree with our arrested cadres. As the NCA we believe the police should not force them to pay admission of guilt fines as there is no crime they have committed. To demonstrate for a constitution that can help bring political, social and economic sanity to our crisis-ridden country is a noble national cause.

In Mutare 13 more NCA members were arrested yesterday evening, brining those arrested in the eastern border town to 26. The police in Mutare have not yet formally charged the NCA members despite the fact that they have already spent two days and two nights in police custody. The police have not released the NCA members on the pretext that they are still looking for more "suspects". This is a fringe claim. We wonder who these suspects are and what crime they have committed. If the so-called suspects are NCA members, then the police are side stepping their real mandate of facilitating for the respect and upholding of the rights of citizens

In Bulawayo, five (5) NCA members who had been arrested were released late last night after police coerced them to pay what were called Admission of guilt fines.

Considering that our members are innocent, we call upon the police to immediately and unconditionally release them. Or else we will go back to the streets to press for their release.

On a humanitarian note, we call upon the honorable ministers of Home Affairs and Health to intervene and allow us to provide food and medication for the arrested. We have failed to do this so far and the lives of our members are in real danger. One of the members collapsed in cells at Harare and is currently battling for life at Parirenyatwa hospital.

Madock Chivasa
Spokesperson

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