Zimbabwean security forces raided the headquarters of the main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) on Saturday and picked up scores of party youths attending a meeting, a party spokesperson said.
”Armed police raided Harvest House [the building housing the MDC headquarters] and arrested about 200 youth and provincial staff who were holding a youth forum,” MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said.
”This was not a street or open-air gathering, but a meeting in our own party offices to discuss civil issues and we are treated like an illegal or terrorist organisation.”
Dozens of police in riot gear cordoned off the area around the First Street shopping mall in central Harare and were seen diverting traffic and pedestrians in the area.
The arrests came two days after police extended a ban on political rallies and processions in Harare. Zimbabwean police temporarily banned political gatherings in February in some parts of Harare and Bulawayo, saying they could lead to widespread rioting.
Dozens of MDC activists, including leader Morgan Tsvangirai, were detained by members of veteran Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s security forces and then assaulted in March after they defied the ban on rallies and tried to stage an anti-government prayer meeting. The ban expired on May 20, but was extended last week.
Lawmaker Paul Madzore and 31 activists are in remand prison after they were arrested in a police crackdown on the opposition in March and charged with terrorism, banditry and sabotage.
The party, which launched a campaign to pressure the government to release its members, said the charges were ”mere fabrication”. — Sapa-AFP