Police forced to return seized MDC-T bikes

Politics
POLICE in Gwanda have returned seven of the 10 motorbikes they seized from MDC-T following a High Court order.

POLICE in Gwanda have returned seven of the 10 motorbikes they seized from MDC-T following a High Court order.

Albert Ncube

Bulawayo High Court Judge Justice Martin Makonese ordered the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) to return the motorbikes following an urgent application by the MDC after police details raided the party’s premises in May before taking away the bikes on suspicion that they were not properly registered.

Justice Makonese granted an interim relief order to the MDC-T for the return of seven of the 10 motor cycles.

MDC-T Matabeleland South provincial administrator Mduduzi Tshuma confirmed receipt of the motorbikes, but said three of the bikes remained in police custody due to some irregularities in their registration.

Justice Makonese ordered that Home Affairs co-ministers, the Officer Commanding CID law and order Gwanda, Officer in charge CID Gwanda, Detective Inspector Mukanyi and Detective Sergeant Mwetela, respondents in the case, must ensure return of the seven motorbikes.

Tshuma said the motorbikes had since been dispatched to districts for use in the forthcoming polls.

“We have dispatched the bikes to respective districts and they will be used by the party in delivering information to our members,” he said.

At the time of their seizure, the MDC-T said the move was meant to curtail the party’s campaign process. Earlier this year a Nissan Atlas truck belonging to MDC-T was stolen from the party officers and recovered two weeks later in Gwaranyemba having been vandalised.