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Arrest of EFZ President
Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe
February 15, 2003

The Evangelical Fellowship of Zimbabwe strongly condemns the arrest and detention on Thursday 13 February of its National President Bishop Trevor Manhnaga and other activists at Northside Community Church in Borrowdale, Harare.

Bishop Manhanga had been invited to speak at a public meeting under the theme: "The Church: Resolving or Worsening the Zimbabwean Crisis?" which was organised by the National Peace Building Committee of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition. Police stopped the meeting, alleging that it did not have their clearance. However, police had been notified in writing on 4 February, ten days before the meeting.

Bishop Manhanga was arrested a stone’s throw away from the meeting venue, where he was having a private discussion. He was then taken to Borrowdale Police Station where, for almost six hours, he was detained, harassed and humiliated together with Dr John Makumbe, Chairperson of Transparency International Zimbabwe, economist Ian Makone and Brian Kagoro, Coordinator of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition. The four were released without charge.

EFZ believes that the sanctity of the Church and its people should not be compromised. The Church and its leadership are the conscience of the nation, and should be given their due respect.

"If our country cannot respect the sanctity of the Church, we are in serious trouble," said Manhanga at a press conference in Harare Friday.

The uncalled for heavy handedness of the police is highly disturbing. The fact that some of these arrests took place on church premises exposes disrespect of the Church and further demonstrates that civic liberties are ignored and at times violated even for the clergy. We therefore demand an end to the harassment of the clergy and other civic leaders.

EFZ demands the repeal of POSA and an immediate end to the continued violation of human rights and basic freedoms.

Box 5745 Harare
Phone + 263 4 750 949

Visit the EFZ fact sheet

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