POLICE have raided the headquarters of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s MDC party and arrested ten people, officials said.
Three party employees and seven supporters were detained in the swoop on Sunday night, according to MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa.
“I can confirm that about 30 police officers besieged our offices and made arrests last night. They did not gain access to our offices and documents,” Chamisa said on Monday.
Chamisa said the 10 were on Monday still at Harare Central Police Station, and the party’s lawyers were trying to access them.
The police raid comes barely a week after the arrest of MDC deputy treasurer general and Energy Minister Elton Mangoma on suspicion of abusing his office following a botched fuel deal involving US$4,4 million.
Mangoma has been indicted at the High Court for trial which begins on March 28 but is currently in remand prison but could be bailed tomorrow if he succeeds in his application.
Tsvangirai has accused police of selectively applying the law while railing against President Robert Mugabe who he says abuses legal processes to persecute MDC officials and supporters.
The MDC has threatened to pull out of the inclusive government, its anger rising after the Supreme Court reversed the election of MDC chairman Lovemore Moyo as Speaker of Parliament.