Chamisa released without charge

Chamisa released without charge

CHAMISA

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• Delimitation commission erases MDC constituencies

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• Tsvangirai warns of Zimbabwe 'inferno'

• Call off boycott, Mogae urges MDC

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• Majority Zimbabweans want MDC to stand

• Zimbabwe bars election observers

• Sadc must show its teeth, says Tsvangirai

• Mugabe retains control over elections

• Police swoop on MDC offices

• Zanu PF takes Seke after MDC boycott

• Britain, SA pressure Mugabe over reforms

• MDC threatens poll boycott, withdraws Harare councillors

• Electoral reforms to be tested in by-election

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• 'Mugabe's compliance the litmus test for SADC protocol on democratic polls'

By Agencies

AN opposition MP in Zimbabwe was released without charges on Wednesday, a day after he was arrested for allegedly inciting violence in the run-up to the March elections, his lawyer said.

"The matter did not even go up to a magistrate as the public prosecutor said there was no factual evidence to the police allegation or any proof of any criminal offence," lawyer Aleck Muchadehama said.

Nelson Chamisa, who at 27 is Zimbabwe's youngest lawmaker, was on Tuesday summoned to the police station in the town of Marondera, in Mashonaland East province, and arrested for allegedly making an incendiary speech.

Police accused the lawmaker from the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party of telling supporters in a speech on Saturday that, "If someone attacks you, do not break your legs in trying to run away."

Police interpreted this as a call to attack the governing party.

On Sunday, another MDC MP was arrested for allegedly holding a meeting without the required police permission but released on bail a day later.

Following the arrests, the party said it was "particularly perturbed by the increasing cases in which police are continuing to disrupt MDC meetings".

The MDC, which is yet to decide whether to contest the March parliamentary elections, reaffirmed that the arrest was proof that Zimbabwe was not serious about its commitment to hold free and fair elections.

Zimbabwe's last two elections, in 2000 and 2002, were marred by allegations of fraud and violence. However, Zimbabwe has announced a new election commission to bring it in line with southern African standards of transparency.

President Robert Mugabe's ruling Zimbabwe African National Union -Patriotic Front (Zanu-PF) party, in power since independence from Britain in 1980, hopes to strengthen its hold on power in the March polls - Sapa
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