Police raid MDC HQ and arrest over 60 victims of violence

By Lance Guma
23 June 2008

Around 30 armed riot police raided the MDC Harvest House headquarters Monday lunchtime and arrested over 60 victims of political violence seeking shelter there. MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa told Newsreel most of those picked up were mainly women and children who have fled violent retributions from Zanu PF mobs. The police used buses from the state owned Zimbabwe United Passenger Company (ZUPCO) and forced those arrested onto them. Chamisa said they have not been told of the reasons for the arrest or where the arrested have been taken to. Another party statement says police arrested everyone inside the building and, ‘looted MDC office furniture and computers containing party information.’

On Sunday a rally planned by the MDC for the Glamis Arena was disrupted by over 2000 marauding Zanu PF militia who beat up everyone attending. Armed soldiers and police in riot gear aided the disruption by camping inside the grounds of the rally venue. Roadblocks were mounted along several streets in Harare as police, with help from the Zanu PF youths, blocked people from going into the city centre. The MDC says military helicopters flew around the cities of Harare and Bulawayo in clear attempts at intimidation. At the venue of the MDC rally Zanu PF mobs armed with sticks, stones, knobkerries could be seen chasing MDC supporters and beating up those they caught. Journalists and some observers were caught up in the violence.