MDC lawyers petition Attorney-General over missing activists

MDC lawyers have petitioned the Attorney-General's office for the urgent release of 15 activists whose whereabouts remain unknown 27 days after they were arrested in their homes in pre-dawn raids in Banket in Mashonaland West province.

The 15 have been illegally detained despite a High Court order issued on 11 November ordering their urgent release or their appearance in court.

The MDC, through its lawyers, have made it clear to the AG's office that the continued illegal detention of the MDC activists is a clear violation of the Global Political Agreement signed in Harare on 15 September 2008 and the party will call for the intervention of SADC and the AU, the guarantors of that agreement.

Under the Security of Persons and Prevention of Violence section in the GPA, all parties agreed to work together to ensure the security of persons and property; and to ensure the safety of any displaced persons, their safe return home and their full enjoyment of the full protection of the law---witnessed and guaranteed by the AU and SADC.

All parties to the agreement further agreed that it is the duty of all political parties and individuals to respect and uphold the Constitution and other laws of the land; and to adhere to the principles of the rule of law.

The State's failure to produce these persons in court or to release them is a patent violation of these important undertakings and the MDC and its lawyers have no option but to approach the guarantors of the GPA, the African Union and SADC.

The missing activists, who continue to be illegally detained without access to food, their families and their lawyers, are:

1. Concillia Chinanzvavana, the MDC Mashonaland West provincial chairperson of the Women's Assembly, a former parliamentary candidate for Zvimba South and a member of the MDC National Council.
2. Her husband, Emmanuel Chinanzvana, who is a councillor for Ward 25 in Zvimba South.
3. Fidelis Chiramba, Zvimba South district chairperson. Chiramba stood as an MDC senatorial candidate for Zvimba in the March 29 elections.
4. Ernest Mudimu, MDC parliamentary candidate for Zvimba North in the March 29 elections.
5. Fanwell Tembo, MDC Zvimba South youth organiser.
6. Terry Musona, MDC deputy provincial secretary.
7. Lloyd Tarumbwa, MDC activist.
8. Violet Mupfuranhehwe, wife to MDC Zvimba South youth chairperson - Collen Mutemagawo.
9. Collen Mutemagawo, MDC Zvimba South youth chairperson.
10. A two year-old child belonging to Mupfuranhehwe and Mutemagawo.
11. Pieat Kaseke, MDC activist.
12. Gwenzi Kahiya, MDC activist.
13. Tawanda Bvumo, MDC activist from Chitungwiza.
14. Agrippa Kakonda, MDC activist.
15. Larry Gaka, MDC activist.

The role of the State is to protect its citizens and not to illegally detain them. The MDC believes that Zanu PF's latest act of insincerity is a major threat to the dialogue process.

We urge the State to Free Them Now!!!!

Statement issued by the Movement for Democratic Change, November 25 2008