The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights has said members of the opposition MDC Alliance led by Nelson Chamisa who were arrested on Friday for criminal nuisance have arrived at Rotten Row Magistrates where they are expected to defend themselves.
The MDC Alliance officials in question are party’s vice presidents, Tendai Biti and Lynnette Karenyi-Kore, Gladys Hlatshwayo, Lovemore Chinoputsa, Vongai Tome and David Antony Chimhini. Posting on Twitter, ZLHR said:
ZLHR Court Update: MDC Alliance party leaders arrested Friday are inside a commuter omnibus at Rotten Row Magistrates Court where they are expected to appear in court on charges of criminal nuisance after they were arrested for allegedly singing outside their party offices.
They were arrested at their party’s headquarters, Harvest House, as they tried to get access into the building.
The building is under police and army protection since Thursday night when youths belonging to the MDC-T led by Thokozani Khupe, with assistance from the soldiers and police, took over the offices.
The incident heightened tensions between the two warring MDC camps, one led by Chamisa and another led by Khupe who have been at each other’s throat over party leadership since the demise of MDC founding leader, Morgan Tsvangirai in 2018.
More: ZLHR