The Movement for Democratic Change formation headed by Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai accused police on Monday of looting its offices in the second city of Bulawayo, in a weekend raid that culminated in the arrest and beatings of more than 50 activists.
The party supporters had assembled to protest the continued detention of MDC Youth Assembly Chairman, Solomon Madzore, arrested last year and charged with alleged involvement in the murder of a police officer in the high density suburb of Glen View, Harare.
In a statement Monday, the Tsvangirai MDC said the Bulawayo activists were freed late Sunday without any charges, but accused the police of looting its property, party regalia and documents.
Police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena could not be reached for comment.
The Bulawayo incident came a few days after another raid at the MDC Harvest House headquarters in Harare in which riot police arrested ten party youths, who appeared in court Monday charged with public violence.
Tsvangirai MDC spokesman Douglas Mwonzora told VOA Studio 7's Jonga Kandemiiri that party lawyers were making efforts to reclaim the seized property. "They confiscated all official documents, including minutes of our meetings and pamphlets," Mwonzora said.
Political analyst Effie Dlela Ncube commented that the police actions were hardly surprising given their record of sympathizing with President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF.
