RSS 2.0 FeedAugust 2009 vol 4, National News
MP free after song arrest
Harare - A Zimbabwe lawmaker arrested for playing music allegedly denigrating President Robert Mugabe has been released without being charged, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's party said on Monday.
Harare - A Zimbabwe lawmaker arrested for playing music allegedly denigrating President Robert Mugabe has been released without being charged, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's party said on Monday.
Movement for Democratic Change MP Stewart Garadhi, accused of playing a song said to belittle Mugabe, was released on Friday after being held by police for several hours.
"The law and order police released him on Friday after failing to lay charges against him. They only confiscated the music disc," the MDC said in a statement.
The party has claimed a recent crackdown on its members and activists with several arrests of lawmakers, including deputy youth minister Thamsanqa Mahlangu who is in custody after being implicated in the theft of a cellphone.
Another MDC parliamentarian from Gutu East, Ransome Makamur, who was accused of corruption in February, was also acquitted on Friday.
"Some government officials are bent on decimating the party majority in parliament and its structures," the party said.
In February, the MDC formed a unity government with Mugabe's Zanu-PF, ending almost three decades of absolute rule by the former liberation leader.
