Zimbabwe police have arrested Movement for Democratic Change Alliance’s Youth Assembly chairperson, Obey Sithole, on accusations that he engaged in what they are calling a flash protest early this month.
In a tweet, the MDC Alliance said Sithole was arrested at the Harare Magistrate Court “on allegations of criminal nuisance. We condemn the continual persecution of opposition members and human rights defenders in Zimbabwe.”
In another tweet, the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said their lawyer, Obey Shava, has offered emergency legal services to Sithole.
The ZLHR said police “has charged him with criminal nuisance as defined in section 46 of the Criminal Code.”
Police spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi, was not responding to calls on his mobile phone.\
Zanu PF Central Committee member, Joseph Tshuma, said the arrested youth leader is suspected to have violated the law.
"People don't just get arrested in Zimbabwe without committing crimes. There is something that Obey Sithole did."
But exiled political activist, Josphat Mzaca Ngulube, said Zanu PF has "made Zimbabwe their personal property and therefore we need a revolution to stop what is going on. We are prepared to fight against the oppressive system."
But Tshuma insisted that there is no need to violence in Zimbabwe "as one gets into power through the ballot box."