TWENTY-FIVE MDC members in Insiza North were yesterday reportedly detained by police in Filabusi for carrying out a recruitment exercise amid reports that an aspiring councillor in the area Nqaba Masuku has been forced to flee his homestead by Zanu PF activists.
Report by Chief Reporter
The reports of violence came barely a week after the three political parties in the inclusive government reaffirmed their commitment to peace in Matabeleland South.
MDC policy and research director Qhubani Moyo, who is vying for the Insiza North seat, said their recruitment teams were recently harassed in the constituency.
“Our door to door recruitment team in ward 15 was this morning (yesterday) rounded up and detained at Filabusi police station while mobilising people” he said.
“This comes a few days after political parties re-committed themselves to upholding peace during the elections” said Moyo who is also co-chair of the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee media sub-committee. Moyo, said the police action buttressed the urgency of security sector reforms before elections.
“It’s a demonstration that security sector reforms are needed before elections. Police are acting as an extension of Zanu PF,” he said. “However, the intimidation of our members by the Zanu PF will not stop the green machine from ploughing through fortresses that have been perceived to be Zanu PF strongholds.”
Moyo said the harassment of MDC recruitment teams was now prevalent in Insiza North.
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He said last week a similar incident occurred and Zanu PF activists threatened to invade an area under Chief Jahana which he said was home to most of their members.
Matabeleland South police spokesperson, Inspector Christopher Ngwenya said he had no details about the arrests as he was in Bulawayo.
Insiza North is represented by Deputy minister of Public Service Andrew Langa in Parliament.