Political tension is intensifying in Mashonaland Central between MDC and ZANU PF supporters, resulting in two provincial leaders from the MDC-T being arrested on Tuesday for allegedly disrespecting ZANU PF governor Martin Dinha.

The MDC said their chairperson for Mashonaland Central Tongai Jeki, and district treasurer Saymore Mhenhe, were arrested because they didn't stand up during independence day celebrations in Bindura, disrespecting the governor.

The MDC provincial administrator for the area, Taedzwa Chikono, told SW Radio Africa that hundreds of people from the political divide attended the Independence Day celebrations at Chipadze Stadium on Sunday.

But tensions started when MDC Mayor Daniso Wakatama arrived, only to be welcomed by MDC supporters. Chikono said the ZANU PF supporters remained seated and in 'retaliation' the MDC supporters didn't get up when the ZANU PF governor entered the stadium, which annoyed the ZANU PF supporters.

The MDC provincial administrator said the two district leaders who were picked up by police on Tuesday are being accused of instructing supporters to disrespect governor Dinha. They are being held at Bindura Central and are expected to appear in court on Wednesday.

We could not get a comment from Bindura police.

The whole constitutional outreach program has been completely stalled for months. Rights groups say if intimidation has begun before any outreach into rural areas, it's an extremely worrying sign of what is to come in the future

By SW radio