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Arbitrary arrests and searches, violation of freedoms of assembly and association
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR)
February 14, 2008

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights informs that today at lunch hour three detectives from CID Law & Order Harare Central District descended on the offices of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition and confiscated a camera and took two members of staff Thabani Moyo and Maureen Kademaunga from the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU). Their mission apparently was pick up Marvelous Khumalo (ZINASU), for as yet unclear reasons as he was recently granted bail by the Magistrates Court. It has since emerged that Mr. Khumalo intends to file his nomination papers to stand for the St. Mary's House of Assembly seat on a Morgan Tsvangirai faction ticket against Pro-Senate and incumbent M Hon. Job Sikhala.

Attendances by ZLHR lawyers from the National Human Rights Defenders Project Mr. Dzimbabwe Chimbga and Mr.Tafadzwa Mugabe together with the Crisis Coalition Coordinator Mr. Xolani Zitha were a little too late as the police had already moved to Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights) house to continue their search. While there they then indicated their desire to talk to Mr. Zitha and his staff whom they took to Harare central. At Harare Central, the three were released without charge but after having been profiled and threatened that they should ensure that Mr. Khumalo presents himself to the Police. It also emerged that the Police have indicated that they are even prepared to arrest Mr. Khumalo at the Nomination Court tomorrow.

In the assessment of the Unit this amounts to an unfair and unwarranted interference with Mr. Khumalo's right to political participation particularly that of standing for public office, calculated as it is on the eve of the nomination day. It is quite apparent that the Police seem to be on a political mission bent on barring Mr. Khumalo from standing for public office.

ZLHR is presently studying the electoral law to advise the general public on the set of possibilities that may result from the conduct of the Police i.e. whether it is possible for an individual to file nomination papers whilst in Police Custody (in 2005 the High Court ruled, then withdrew, its decision after criticism from president Mugabe, that Roy Bennet, though incarcerated was eligible to file nomination papers for Chimanimani); whether any other legal representative can file on his behalf etc. ZLHR will inform of the findings as son as they are completed.

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