MDC yesterday said its MPs Charlton Hwende (Kuwadzana East), Joanah Mamombe (Harare West), and Godfrey Sithole (Chitungwiza North), who have been absent from Parliament, are not on the run and had nothing to do with shutdown protests last month.
The statement by MDC followed reports that the three had not been attending Parliament due to the clampdown by security agents on opposition supporters and legislators. MDC MPs have been arrested and appeared in court for allegedly inciting the fuel protests. MDC spokesperson Jacob Mafume said Hwende was in Namibia when the January demonstrations took place and was not on the run for any offences.
He also said Mamombe had been out attending educational programmes as she is a post-graduate student. Mafume said Mamombe has been absent in Parliament because she had to travel to attend block release programmes out of the country. He however, said he had not yet ascertained the absence of Sithole.
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