Zimbabwe
MDC opposition calls on Zimbabweans to remain calm

afrol.com, 10 October - At a press conference in his private home yesterday, the leader of the Zimbabwean MDC opposition, Morgan Tsvangirai, called for Zimbabweans to "remain calm in the event that the police required him to accompany them for questioning." The popular MDC leader is denounced for making allegedly treasonous statements. 

In a statement, the MDC said that Tsvangirai, referring to threats in the media by police to arrest him on his return to
Zimbabwe, had called on Zimbabweans to "respect the rule of law and allow it to take its course in his regard." Whilst in the company of the press and to allay any concerns that he was hiding from the authorities, Tsvangirai called the ZRP Public Relations spokesman, Wayne Bvudzijena to notify him of his whereabouts.

As afrol.com reported yesterday, Morgan Tsvangirai safely arrived Zimbabwe and home, retuning from a business trip to South Africa. He was scheduled to arrive at Harare airport yesterday at noon, where police were waiting to arrest him for for allegedly treasonous statements. Tsvangirai, however, tricked the Zimbabwean police by entering the country by "alternative means". 

MDC spokesmen have stated that the intention to arrest Tsvangirai is "legally unjustified and politically unwise and dangerous", as it is likely to spark unnecessary conflict and violence within the country.

While Tsvangirai has avoided his detention so far, three MDC Parliamentarians were arrested Sunday on unspecified charges. The three arrested MPs were Job Sikhala (MP for St Mary's), Tafadzwa Musekiwa (MP for Zengeza) and Justin Mutendadzamera (MP for Mabvuku). They were attaining a rally planning the reactions to a possible arrest of their leader, Tsvangirai.

Yesterday, a peaceful crowd of approximately 100 gathered at the Harare Courts in Rotten Row to witness the court hearing for the three detained MDC MPs, the party has informed afrol.com. "Typical of the intolerance of the Zimbabwe Republic Police, tear gas was soon unleashed on the gathering and this was followed up by the police forcing members of the public to disperse," MDC spokesmen said. 

The court hearing never took place as the Attorney General refused to accept the paperwork presented by the police in the case against the three MDC Members of Parliament. All three are to be held in custody until this afternoon.

Background
The enhanced tension between the two parties has its background in a speech by MDC leader Tsvangirai on 30 September, addressing a crowd of 20.000 at Rufaro Stadium in Harare. "If you don't want to go peacefully we will remove you violently," he said, referring to Mugabe. The MDC was celebrating the party's first anniversary. A spokesman of ZANU-PF, the following day replied on state television that his party had the capacity to respond to any violence with violence.

This week, several high ranking ZANU-PF officials have called for the arrest of Tsvangirai for his "inciting violence". However, an MDC spokesman says that "it is ironic and illogical that Zanu PF officials are pushing for Tsvangirai's arrest on allegations that he committed treasonous acts by 'inciting violence'" at the rally at Rufaro Stadium, "when similar and much worse statements by almost the entirety of Zanu PF leadership have gone by uncondemned and unpunished."

Source: Based on Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) 

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