RSS 2.0 FeedSeptember 2009 Vol 12, National News
Zimbabwe Police Arrest NGO Officials Over ‘Illegal’ Meeting
Zimbabwean police arrested two officials from the National Association of Non-Governmental Organizations for allegedly holding an illegal political meeting.
Zimbabwean police arrested two officials from the National Association of Non-Governmental Organizations for allegedly holding an illegal political meeting.
Dadirai Chikwengo, chairwoman of the organization, and Chief Executive Officer Cephas Zinhumwe were detained at Victoria Falls airport yesterday, Farai Ngirande, the group’s spokesman, said in a phone interview today from the capital, Harare. The group, known as Nango, is an umbrella organization for most of Zimbabwe’s non-governmental bodies.
“Police have accused them of holding an unauthorized political meeting, which is untrue,” Ngirande said, adding that the officials were in the resort town for a scheduled meeting.
Yesterday’s arrests follow a police raid on a Movement for Democratic Change house in Harare on Oct. 24.
The MDC, led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, “withdrew cooperation” with President Robert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front party earlier this month citing the detention of its treasurer Roy Bennett on terror charges, which the party describes as “trumped up.” The MDC and Zanu-PF formed a power-sharing government in February.
Police in Victoria Falls didn’t answer calls to their offices when Bloomberg News called seeking comment today. National police spokesman Wayne Bvudzijena also didn’t respond to calls to his mobile phone.
