Mnangagwa must immediately release all political prisoners: MDC Alliance

MDC Alliance has issued a statement calling for the immediate release of all imprisoned political activists and the nullification of their charges.

Issued from the office of the secretariat, MDC Alliance further called for the intervention of international organisations to recognize the status of those who were imprisoned including Cecilia Chimbiri, Joana Mamombe and Haruzivishe Makomborero who was sentenced to 14 months in prison today.

“We make an urgent call on:

1. International Human Rights Organisation to recognize the status of political prisoner of Makomborero Haruzivishe, Cecilia Chimbiri, Joana Mamombe, Tinashe Bwanaisa, Rakeshi Marufu, Collin Paison, Tafara Mafunde, Farai Chidziva and Trust Nyamado.
   
   
2. The Zimbabwean Government for the immediate and unconditional release of all political prisoners and prisoners of conscience and the nullification of their charges which are clearly punitive measures against their peaceful exercise of their human rights.”

 Makomborero Haruzivishe was convicted and sentenced to 14 months in prison for inciting public violence and resisting police arrest on Wednesday.

Haruzivishe, who had other pending cases including kidnapping, was found guilty by Harare magistrate Judith Taruvinga.

Joana Mamombe and Cecilia Chimbiri were arrested on accusations of breaching Covid-19 regulations after holding a press conference at the Harare Magistrates’ Court denouncing the arrest of the fellow political activist, Makomborero Haruzivishe.