Madzore is currently languishing in remand prison following his arrest over alleged involvement in the murder of Harare police officer, Inspector Petros Mutedza.

Several other MDC activists are also languishing in remand prison following the High Court’s decision to throw out an appeal by their defence counsel for bail.

MDC  youth secretary general, Promise Mkwananzi told the Daily News in an interview that the party’s national youth leadership had since met Prime Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai, who is the leader of the MDC, to discuss the possible involvement of Madzore’s fate in the list of the country’s inclusive government’s hot spots.

“We have approached our president, who is the Prime Minister of this country and a principal of the GPA, to intensify the pressure. We are writing a letter to the other GPA principals and Sadc. We want Sadc to put the issue on the agenda of its next meeting which is likely to be held next month,” said Mkhwananzi.

He said the detention of Madzore was political and the arrest unlawful.

“This should be part of outstanding issues that need to be discussed as it is a clear case of political persecution of our members against the principles and spirit of the GPA. Zanu PF is actually failing to abide by the demands and agreement of the GNU,” Mkwananzi said.

The MDC youth leader said efforts to negotiate with Zanu PF, accused of manipulating the judiciary system, (for Madzore’s release) had hit a brick wall.

“We have resolved to take the matter to Sadc because Zanu PF has been adamant they will not heed our calls to release our leader. This is why we believe Sadc must intervene since it is the guarantor to the GPA.

“We know that this is a political strategy of trying to weaken our party by arresting and incarcerating our leadership,” Mkwananzi said.

He added that while the party’s youth wing would be waiting for the next Sadc meeting, it will continue to put pressure to Zanu PF by engaging in planned massive demonstrations and street protests country wide. “While we wait for our party leadership to take up the matter to Sadc at the next meeting, we are not going to fold our hands and relax as MDC youths.

“We have planned demonstrations and protests around the country as a way of pilling pressure on the former ruling party to release our president. So far we have done two demos in Bulawayo and Masvingo to express our disgruntlement over his continued detention in the filthy cells of Harare remand prison,” he added.

MDC youths have since launched a nationwide “Free Solomon Madzore” campaign that has seen angry party youths taking to the streets to demonstrate for the release of their firebrand leader.

About 50 youths were arrested by police in Bulawayo a fortnight ago during the launch of the campaign while hundreds flooded Masvingo city streets last Friday in a demonstration that caught police off guard.

By Daily News