Police on Tuesday arrested Movement for Democratic Change secretary general, Douglas Mwonzora, outside the High Court in central Harare after he questioned security details at the court for demanding party leader Morgan Tsvangirai’s identity document before entering the premises.
Mwonzora argued that Tsvangirai is a former prime minister and a very important person (VIP), who should not be asked to produce his identity document in public.
Tsvangirai was due to appear in court where he was facing a $500,000 defamation case filed by national army colonel, Christopher Mayoyo, over the 2008 political violence in Masvingo province.
Mayoyo is suing the former prime minister for allegedly stating that the army officer was involved in the murder and torture of opposition political activists in the 2008 elections.
According to MDC spokesperson, Obert Gutu, Mwonzora told the security details that it was demeaning to ask the former prime minister to produce his ID when he is a VIP.
“It was at that point the security detail became upset and thought that Douglas Mwonzora had committed an offence and by so doing Mwonzora was the arrested,” said Gutu.
He said Mwonzora was then arrested and taken to Harare Central Police Station. He was reportedly released late Tuesday night. Gutu said he believed Mwonzora has no case to answer.
“What I can just confirm is that the whole incident at the High Court this morning is the incident that gave rise to this arrest. It is actually a very very spurious allegation because at the end of the day we are dealing here with an over-enthusiastic security detail whom we strongly suspect to be a member of the Central Intelligence Organization who was just all out to embarrass and humiliate our leader Dr. Tsvangirai,” said Gutu.
Mwonzora is being represented by former Constitutional Affairs Minister Advocate, Eric Matinenga, who could not be reached for comment.
Police spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner, Charity Charamba said she was yet to check the facts relating to Mwonzora’s arrest.
Meanwhile, Justice Army Tsanga has postponed Tsvangirai’s trial to 14 July.
Colonel Mayoyo claims in his defamation case that Tsvangirai allegedly restated that he was responsible for the murder, torture and harassment of opposition political activists in Masvingo province in 2008.