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| Lawyer denied access to detained MDC official By Violet Gonda 1 May 2007 A human rights lawyer has expressed concern for the well-being of detained opposition official Pishai Muchauraya, who has allegedly been tortured. Alex Muchadehama said police officers confirmed the Tsvangirai-MDC provincial spokesperson had been detained, but he was denied access to his client on Tuesday by the CID Law and Order Division at Harare Central police station. Muchadehama said: "We also received information from many people that he had been beaten up and we suspect that we are being denied the right to see him because the police suspect we would see how he was injured and we also suspect that they don't want us to see him because they are in the process of assaulting him." The lawyer was told to return on Wednesday to see the political detainee. Pishai Muchauraya was arrested in Mutare on Monday and transferred into the custody of Harare Central police on the same day. On his way to Harare the opposition official managed to send text messages alerting some journalists and human rights lawyers that he had been beaten and arrested in connection with petrol bombing accusations. Muchauraya's arrest is the latest in a series of attacks and harassment of opposition officials by the Mugabe regime. Scores of MDC supporters, civic society activists, students and church leaders have been arrested and beaten since early March. The opposition says the bombing allegations are trumped up charges aimed at crippling them. Meanwhile, the European Parliament issued a resolution in solidarity with the people of Zimbabwe last Thursday. Member of the EU Parliament Geoffery Van Orden said the resolution reflected their continuing concern about the situation in Zimbabwe, particularly in light of the events of March, 11th. He said the parliament really was recognizing that there has been some progress in SADC. Van Orden said: "We are calling all members of the international community to strongly enforce the sanctions against the Mugabe regime and emphasizing the point that the sanctions are not against the Zimbabwean people. They are targets specifically against Mugabe and his cronies." The MEP said the sanctions have to be rigorously enforced, tightened and include even more people. The European parliamentarian also recognized there was a need to put plans in position now for a massive programme of international assistance to Zimbabweans once 'freedom is restored in the country." |
| SW Radio Africa Zimbabwe news |
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