Police arrests of activists- a confused mess

It’s a confused mess. That is what our opinion poll showed when we asked readers of The Insider what they thought about the arrests of political activists and politicians especially those from the Movement for Democratic Change.

We specifically asked: “Zimbabwe police have been accused of harassing members of the Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai (MDC-T) including cabinet ministers, and journalists working for the independent media. Do you think?

• They are overzealous and causing irreparable damage to the image of the country
• They are just following orders
• Police are doing their job according to the law
• It’s a confused mess”

A two-week poll showed a tie between they are overzealous and they are just following orders with each polling 28 percent. Twenty-four percent said police were doing their job according to the law while 20 percent said it was a confused mess.

Several MDC-T officials including Energy Minister Elton Mangoma and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s Office Jameson Timba were arrested recently but Mangoma was acquitted. The MDC-T itself issues bulletins almost on a daily basis about one official or another being arrested or beaten up.

The arrests are perpetuating the common perception outside Zimbabwe that there is no rule of law in the country, especially since the arrests seem to be one-sided.

Leaders of the smaller MDC were arrested at the weekend but they were immediately released with police even apologising.

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