HARARE - Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC party has urged the power-sharing government to stop malicious prosecutions of its legislators and civil society activists. The MDC made the call after a week of “persistent abuse of the law” against scores of its legislators and perceived opponents of Zanu (PF), capped by the arrest of former MDC legislator and socialist Munyaradzi Gwisai on Saturday.The police rounded up 46 people, including Gwisai, during a lecture organised by the Zimbabwe branch of the International Socialist Organization where footage of the revolution in Egypt was shown during a discussion titled: "What lessons can be learnt by the working class in Zimbabwe and Africa?" Police allege Gwisai and dozens others were planning to stage Egypt-style mass uprisings in Zimbabwe.Meanwhile, Nyanga North MP, Douglas Mwonzora, is currently in remand prison after the State invalidated a bail ruling on Monday by invoking the draconian Section 121 subsection (3) of the Criminal Procedure and Evidence Act. Mwonzora and 24 MDC activists were granted $50 bail each by a Nyanga magistrate on Monday but were remanded in custody after the State invoked the law that gives permission to keep a person in jail for seven days even if bail has been granted.

 The MDC said it was concerned by the upsurge in the arrests and harassment of its officials, activists and supporters on what it called "trumped–up charges" of political violence. Zanu (PF) has used its control of the security forces and the judiciary to harass, abduct and torture those it considers opponents while Mugabe’s supporters have continued to attack MDC supporters in total disregard of the rule of law.The MDC reported the detention of Roger Tazviona of Zhombe and scores of MDC supporters in Kwekwe on political violence charges. Tazviona was again granted bail by a Kwekwe magistrate but the State invoked Section 121.

The MDC said it was dismayed by the continued abuse of the criminal justice system following the summoning of six Masvingo MPs to court on allegations of disrupting a meeting that was being addressed by self-styled war veteran, Jabulani Sibanda last weekend.MPs Tongai Matutu (Masvingo Urban), Heya Shoko (Bikita West), Edmore Marima (Bikita East), Jani Varandani (Bikita South), Enerst Mudavanhu (Zaka North) and Zaka Senator Misheck Marava have been ordered to appear in court on March 28 for trial. They are facing charges of ordering villagers at Makotore Business Centre in Bikita to disperse from Sibanda’s meeting which the MDC said was "forced"."We find it strange that only members of the MDC are being arrested when it is very clear that it is Zanu (PF), with  the partisan police force, are perpetrating political violence," said the MDC.  The party continues to restrain its members from retaliating. "The party knows that Zanu (PF) is on its way out of the Zimbabwean political scene," the party statement said.