Tsvangirai Happy Over Release of 21 MDC-T Activists
Thomas Chiripasi
HARARE —
More than 200 members of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai gathered at the party’s Harvest House headquarters Tuesday in Harare to welcome 21 party activists who were recently released from remand prison.
Mr. Tsvangirai could not hide his joy upon seeing the activists who identified themselves with their prison numbers.
The MDC-T leader likened their prosecution to some form of persecution. “One of the fundamental issues that we deal with is that there are those who are fighting to oppress people but those who are fighting for freedom will prevail in the end.”
He said their long stay in prison on what he described as trumped-up charges, is clear testimony that those who are fighting for democracy in Zimbabwe are on the receiving end.
He promised to buy groceries for the activists saying there is little time for them to prepare for the festive season.
The party’s youth leader, Solomon Madzore, who is also facing the same charges of allegedly murdering Police Inspector Petros Mutedza in Glen View last year, said the youth will not rest until President Robert Mugabe and his Zanu PF party are shown the exit door.
“Whether Mugabe has AK-47s exceeding ten billion … Mugabe must go, and he is going to go,” said Madzore.
Secretary general Promise Mkwananzi of the MDC-T Youth Assembly criticized the way in which the judiciary is handling the case of those activists.
"The justice system in this country is in a shambles and the prison system is in tatters," said Mkwananzi.
Only five activists remain in custody after the High Court refused to grant them bail pending the continuation of their trial saying there are no special circumstances warranting their release.
The activists are denying the charges while their party claims that the allegations politically motivated.
