Democratic Left Front Condemns Arrest of Zimbabwean Activists

21 February 2011

On the 19Th February , a leading member of the International Socialist Organisation of Zimbabwe, Munyaradzi Gwisai and 51 others, including students and workers were arrested in Harare during a unpublicised meeting held to discuss revolution in the Middle East. They are still being held and will have to be charged today if they are to be held in detention any further. It is believed they will be charged for conspiring against the state and number of them have been beaten physically by their police interrogators.

DEMOCRATIC LEFT FRONT CONDEMNS ARREST OF ZIMBABWEAN ACTIVISTS

On the 19Th February , a leading member of the International Socialist Organisation of Zimbabwe, Munyaradzi Gwisai and 51 others, including students and workers were arrested in Harare during a unpublicised meeting held to discuss revolution in the Middle East. They are still being held and will have to be charged today if they are to be held in detention any further. It is believed they will be charged for conspiring against the state and number of them have been beaten physically by their police interrogators.

The DLF stands in solidarity with our comrades in Zimbabwe and all those people fighting against the repressive and dictatorial regime headed by Mugabe. It is clear the despots on our own borders fear the prospect of the winds of massive civil disobedience that is rocking the Middle East will travel down South and confine them to the dustbin of history.

The DLF will not stand idly by if treason charges are laid, we will not hesitate in establishing a defence campaign to drop the charges and have the prisoners released.

Gwisai is currently living between Zimbabwe and South Africa and has been actively involved in the Gauteng region and national launch of the DLF. He is a former MDC MP, and the Director of the Labour Law Centre, attached to the University of Zimbabwe.

WHAT CAN PEOPLE DO?

Phone and complain to the Harare Central police station where they are being detained +263-4-777-777;
Send letters of complaint to the representatives of the Zimbabwean government in South Africa
Ambassador. Mr P Mphoko, fax - 012 342 5126
Consul General Mr. C Mapanga, fax - 011 838 5620

FOR COMMENTS CONTACT:

Brian Ashley – 082 085 7088
Mazibuko K. Jara – 083 651 0271