Some Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) supporters have allegedly been attacked by suspected Zanu PF activists in Harare East where recalled Member of Parliament, Tendai Biti, is seeking re-election in the forthcoming by elections.
In a tweet, political activist Emmanuel Zellers Gumbo said, “We participated in almost every election in Harare East, but non of these past elections were as violent as this by-election .... On Friday 18/03/22 they attacked our members in Tafara & Gletywn, today they attacked 3 in Msasa and defaced our posters.”
Police spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, was unreachable as he was not responding to calls on his mobile phone.
Meanwhile, CCC top supporter Godfrey Karembera, who was allegedly assaulted by the police and is facing a disorderly charge, has been remanded in custody to Monday.
A Harare magistrate conducted a bedside court session for Karembera, who is affectionately known as Madzibaba veShanduko, in the capital city amid tensions in the country ahead of the March 26 by-elections.
In a tweet, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights said, “@MadzibabaV will spend weekend in remand prison after a Harare Magistrate refused to entertain his lawyer @DougColtart’s submissions on fact that he has been overdetained & assaulted in police custody. The Magistrate said that Coltart can raise those issues on Monday.”
Meanwhile, the High Court has ordered the Zimbabwe Republic Police not to interfere with the CCC rally set for Masvingo on Sunday.
According to CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere, the “rally is on … The courts have interdicted the police from interfering.”
Police had indicated that they don’t have adequate manpower to provide security for the CCC rally as the ruling party will also be holding two similar rallies in the city on Sunday.