Joanna Mamombe’s Mercedes Benz vehicle has reportedly been found parked at Harare Central Police station as the story about the alleged abduction of MDC activists take a new twist.
Mamombe’s car provides fresh evidence
If the discovery of the car is anything to go by, evidence that the MDC Alliance members were indeed taken into police custody as earlier reported by state media. The MDC Alliance members were involved in a flash of protest in the suburb of Warren Park in the capital Harare over the government’s lack of concern over the welfare of citizens during the covid-19 forced lockdown.
Conflicting statements by the state
The Zimbabwe authorities made conflicting statements about the arrest of the protesters. State media reported that the activists were arrested by the police after the protests. The police, however denied any knowledge about the whereabouts of the MDC activists.
The activists were later found in the town of Bindura about 85 kilometres from the capital where the protests happened. The opposition party blamed state agents for the abduction and sexual assault on three of their members.
The European Union and the United Kingdom expressed concern over the alleged abductions and called on the government to ensure the perpetrators are dealt with according to the law. The Minister of Home Affairs Kazembe Kazembe instructed the Police Commissioner to investigate the case.
Joanna Mamombe’s car at police station
A Zimbabwean journalist Everson Mushava posted: “Silver Benz AFE 9222 – the car Mamombe was said to be driving when allegedly arrested at police roadblock, still parked at Central Police Station.”
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Silver Benz AFE 9222 – the car Mamombe was said to be driving when allegedly arrested at police roadblock, still parked at Central Police Station.
@nickmangwana @KMutisi @ProfJNMoyo @hwendec pic.twitter.com/az3jocNKKT— Everson Mushava (@EversonMushava) May 18, 2020
The Zimbabwe government has been taking advantage of the national lockdown to move against the main opposition the MDC Alliance. Recently a controversial court ruling was made which allowed another party MDC-T to recall legislators from the MDC Alliance. Both parties contested in the 2018 presidental elections as different parties. The move has caused distress in the political space and has resulted in threats and tension between the MDC Alliance and the ruling party Zanu PF. The opposition is accusing the ruling party of using courts to stifle political opponents.
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