Karanda died after a short illness and is remembered as the MDC's first Youth Assembly secretary for security. At the time of his death he was a personal assistant to the MDC-T's Deputy Mines Minister, Gift Chimanikire, who described Karanda as a "visionary."

Addressing mourners at Warren Hills cemetery the MDC-T deputy national chairperson Morgen Komichi described Karanda as a "fearless fighter for real change."

"Diamond was known for his courage," Komichi said, adding: "In Zimbabwe there is no democratic freedom, no freedom of association, we have no well equipped hospitals, schools, no better roads and there is high unemployment. These are the issues that Diamond died fighting for."

Komichi said ZANU PF was to blame for Karanda's death as he was a victim of ZANU PF and state security agents assault on several occasions since he joined the MDC in 1999.

Karanda was also arrested on several occasions on various trumped-up charges. On two occasions he and other MDC youths were abducted by state security agents and dumped in remote areas. On both occasions they managed to escape and come back to Harare.

Komichi castigated the police Commissioner General, Augustine Chihuri, and the police for not taking any action against ZANU PF thugs, who continue the party's reign of intimidation and violence in the capital.

"I want to tell Chihuri that if he does not take action and arrest the ZANU PF hooligans, the MDC youths are going to defend their parents and the people against the unruly behaviour of ZANU PF youths," he said.

Meanwhile, two MDC members who were arrested earlier this month and falsely accused of murdering a police officer in Glen View, have been granted bail by Justice Joseph Musakwa at the High Court.

Activist Memory Ncube and the MDC-T Harare province secretary for National Healing, Kerina Dewa, were arrested on September 7th as police continued rounding up MDC-T supporters, accusing them of complicity in the murder.

Police officer Petros Mutedza was killed by unknown revelers in a local nightclub in Glen view back in May this year. The police, claiming to be investigating the murder, arrested a total of 24 MDC members at the time. A group of 17 were granted bail in July but 7 are still in remand prison.

The police claim Mutedza was murdered by MDC members who held a meeting at the pub, despite evidence that many of them were not even at that location on the day. MDC-T officials accuse the police of harassing their members and attempting to destabilize the party.

Ncube and Dewa were granted $300 bail each.

By Special correspondent