There are no political prisoners: Govt
Zimbabwe’s government has dismissed claims that there are political prisoners as in the country as “falsehoods.”
In the run up to the August 23 Harmonised Election, Transform Zimbabwe leader, Jacob Ngarivhume was jailed for three years for calling for peaceful protests. According to the Zimbabwean Constitution, peaceful protests are lawful.Citizens Coalition for Change’s (CCC) Job Sikhala has shockingly been in pretrial detention for more than a year. Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) members also remain behind bars.
Some of the senior opposition leaders such as Tendai Biti, Gladys Hlathwayo, Lynette Kore have pending cases before the courts.
After the recent elections, there were more arrests of opposition leaders such as Maureen Kademaunga, Gift Siziba and others.
However, talking to African Union (AU) ambassadors, acting Minister of Foreign Affairs Amon Murwira said allegations of political persecution are patently untrue.
“In an attempt to dignify their falsehoods, the opposition claims that Zimbabwe has political prisoners. Government wishes to state categorically that there are no political prisoners in Zimbabwe. The opposition also claims that its supporters are being harassed, intimidated and persecuted.
“This is patently untrue and meant to cover up for their violent acts witnessed in Midlands and Manicaland provinces in the just-ended general elections and local by-elections. The Constitution clearly stipulates that all are equal before the law, and that nobody is above the law. Government condemns the politicization of such criminality,” Murwira said.
He argued that Zimbabwe is under attack from foreign powers who are using the local opposition to tarnish the government.
“Overall, it is not a coincidence that Zimbabwe is under attack less than two weeks before we observe the SADC Anti-Sanctions Day. The anti-sanctions campaign has been echoed at continental level by the African Union, on many occasions and at various Summits and other international fora. Government notes a concerted effort by actors sympathetic to those who imposed unilateral sanctions to undermine this important crusade,” he said.
