Harare – Over 100 people, including four members of parliament, were arrested in anti-government demonstrations in Harare and other towns in Zimbabwe on Saturday.
An opposition MP from the Movement for Democratic Change, who represents a poor Harare suburb, was not only in detention but had also been badly beaten up, MDC vice president Nelson Chamisa said.
Fanni Mungengami, MP for Harare’s Glen View North constituency, was beaten up by riot police on Saturday when he took part in a demonstration protesting against current electoral laws and practices by the Zimbabwe Election Commission. “He cannot sit down, he is in great pain,” Chamisa said.
In eastern Zimbabwe, police arrested local MP Trevor Saruwaka. Rowena Bunjira, MP for for Sunningdale in Harare, and Senator Lilian Timevous were arrested in the small town of Zvishavane in central Zimbabwe.
“More then 100 people were arrested at demonstrations today [Saturday] and we are still getting information so the final figure may be higher,” Chamisa said.
He said later that about 20 more people had been arrested in Gwanda in the Matabeleland South province late on Saturday.
On Friday police banned all demonstrations in Harare, but a coalition of opposition parties said they would continue to demonstrate in various constituencies on Saturday.
African News Agency (ANA)