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MP detained for expressing doubts on Mugabe contesting in the next election
Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR)
March 23, 2010

Mazowe Central Member of Parliament and MDC national executive member Honorable Shepherd Mushonga was on Saturday 20 March detained for five hours at Bindura central police station on what appears to be tramped up charges. Bindura law and order section quizzed the Member of Parliament for undermining the office of the president during a political rally in February for saying, ''Mugabe might not be around come the next election.''

After being pursued for over a month, Mushonga was arrested and detained for five hours over the weekend by the Bindura Law and Order section only to be released on summons for a court hearing at around 1500 hours. MDC party officials have slammed the repressive, partisan behavior of the police and criticized the harassment of their party members as tantamount to stifling their efforts on constitutional outreach program in the province. The latest arrest brings to 26 the number of MDC leaders and activists arrested on trumped up charges by the police in Mashonaland Central over the past two months.

Inconceivable infringements on the right to freedom of expression by the security forces remains a perilous threat casting a shadow of doom on the envisaged constitutional outreach program in which the majority of Zimbabweans are expected to air their divergent views freely without fear of reprisal or persecution.

Meanwhile 4 MDC activists are on the precipice of an imminent eviction from Foothills farm after magistrate Feresi Chakanyuka passed an eviction order on Friday the 19th of March In Bindura. Linos Zakeyo, Lazarus Malunga, Gift Mhembere and Musona have less than 14 days to appeal to the High court against a controversial order to oust them from their lifetime place of residence now occupied by ZANU Pf party member and liberation war veteran Jacob Chiripanyanga.

The decision against the MDC party activists was passed despite the applicant's failure to produce a valid offer letter for the piece of land that he has forcibly occupied. Speaking to ROHR Zimbabwe, Linos Zakeyo expressed his uttermost disgruntlement, describing the judgment as unfair and susceptible to external influence on the bench. He further appealed for financial assistance for legal fees to apply for an appeal at the High court to block the eviction order which is bent on eroding his legitimate right to a place to shelter.

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