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MDC calls for release of activists and mourners
Irene Madongo, SW Radio Africa
May 23, 2011

http://www.swradioafrica.com/news230511/mdc230511.htm

MDC-T activists and mourners from a funeral, who are still being held behind bars since last week, must be released as they are being held on trumped-up charges, says Obert Gutu, the MDC-T's Secretary for Harare Province. Gutu also said some of those being held are unwell, yet they are being denied access to their medication.

Last Thursday 35 people were arrested in Warren Park, Harare, at the funeral of MDC-T activist Jack Ndeketeya, who died in a car accident last week. The 35 included MDC-T activists, Ndeketeya's elderly and ailing father, a pastor and other mourners. They were held at Harare Central Police Station and charged with assault and theft.

There were also allegations that the mourners provoked farmers at the near-by Boka Tobacco Auction Floors after the funeral. The MDC-T has denied this, saying they were ambushed by suspected ZANU PF activists who showed up, caused trouble and then blamed the MDC-T.

Over the weekend Ndeketeya's parents were released. But on Monday, the MDC-T said the remaining activists and mourners appeared in court charged with theft and assault, with the authorities still refusing to say who they are alleged to have robbed. They were remanded in custody and will appear in court again on Tuesday.

Gutu said he is concerned about those still locked up and that their condition has left him depressed. He said it was ridiculous to accuse them of robbing or provoking people in their state.

"There are some who are on anti-retroviral medication and they were not given permission to access their tablets, which I was advised they had to take on a daily basis. There was this elderly gentleman, I could not get his name, but he was very frail looking," Gutu explained, "he said he had a tube in his stomach or somewhere and he said he was just sick. I could see for myself he was not well."

"This is just the usual ZANU PF strategy of just trying to victimize MDC supporters and anyone who is perceived to be sympathetic to the MDC. It's just the abuse of the law, the judicial system, just to persecute MDC activists," Gutu said.

SW Radio Africa is Zimbabwe's Independent Voice and broadcasts on Short Wave 4880 KHz in the 60m band.

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