MDC welcomes the High Court’s decision on Thursday, quashing the conviction of Chipinge South MP, Hon. Meki Makuyana on false charges of kidnapping two Zanu PF activists in July 2009. Hon. Makuyana was jailed for 18 months in prison by the late Chipinge magistrate Samuel Zuze. After the conviction, Makuyana was subsequently suspended from Parliament.

The MP was falsely convicted of kidnapping Joseph Dhliwayo and Simon Kumbula in Chipinge South. Three other MDC activists, Simon Chaya, Wedzerai Gwenzi and Hardwork Masaiti who is the councillor for Ward 26, were jointly charged with the legislator.

However, this week High Court judges, Justice Susan Mavangira and Justice Charles Hungwe ruled the convictions ‘unsafe’ and thereby vindicated the MP’s claims that Magistrate Zuze had been biased in his judgment.

The judges said the trial magistrate had erred on a number of issues and that the record of proceedings was in shambles. There were many facts missing from the court records relating to the case that it cast doubts on the outcome of the trial proceedings.

What the magistrate wanted was just a conviction and in the end, he did not do his work properly. Hon. Makuyana is set to resume his parliamentary duties once the High Court verdict is sent to Parliament.

The 2009 conviction of Hon. Makuyana is a case of persecution not prosecution.  Thousands of MDC, officials and activists have gone through this persecution where the State security agents and the judiciary are used by the ‘sunset’ party, Zanu PF to disrupt the operations of the MDC. However, Zanu PF’s attempts have failed as the MDC continues to grow from strength to strength.

Meanwhile, the three MDC members who were arrested at Maungwa Business Centre in Gutu, Masvingo on Tuesday while holding a meeting have been released by the police and told to come to court on 14 February 2012. The MDC Gutu South chairperson, James Makovere, organising secretary, Alderman Jeffrey Tangemhare and Islam Matose were arrested for violating the controversial Public Order and Security Act (POSA).

After the arrest, they were taken to Gutu Police Station where police officers vowed that there would crackdown on all MDC activists. Commenting on the incident, the MDC provincial spokesperson Hon. Harrison Mudzuri defended the three saying they had no reason to inform the police since they were holding an in-house programme.

“There is no reason for one to inform the police when conducting personal affairs. Does it mean that we have to tell the police about everything including indoor affairs? The police have gone too far in applying POSA as a weapon against the MDC.  We hope justice will prevail at the end of the day and this will come to an end,” said Hon. Mudzuri.

It seems the police are determined to thwart MDC activities in the area and on Monday another MDC activist Ackim Time was arrested by members of the Police Internal Security Intelligence (PISI) in Masvingo. Observers believe it could be a widespread crackdown against the MDC. The reasons for the arrest of Time, who is still in police custody, remain unknown.

The people’s struggle for real change: Let’s Finish it!!!