Tsvangirai charged with 'disorderly conduct', released

Tsvangirai charged with 'disorderly conduct', released

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By Torby Chimhashu

MORGAN Tsvangirai, the leader of a faction of the opposition MDC has been charged by Zimbabwean police over alleged "disorderly conduct" during a tour of shops in Harare last month.

The MDC leader had his fingerprints taken and recorded a warned and cautioned statement in the presence of his lawyers Innocent Chagonda and Alec Muchadehama at Harare Central Police Station Thursday morning.

Lawyers said police charged Tsvangirai with acting in a manner that breached security in the shops that he visited last month as he assessed the impact of a government price freeze on all goods which triggered shortages.

Tsvangirai toured shops in Harare with journalists and was involved in a fracas with Jocelyn Chiwenga, the wife of the commander of the Zimbabwe Defence Forces, General Constantine Chiwenga.

Chiwenga threatened to "take away" Tsvangirai's manhood before the MDC leader escaped the chaotic scenes at Makro Wholesalers.

The abusive Chiwenga later slapped photojournalist Tsvangirai Mukwazhi whom she accused of sending "negative" photos to news organisations hostile to Zimbabwe.

Police said they would proceed by way of summons once they had completed their investigations into the alleged "disorderly" conduct.

Four plainclothes detectives who told the veteran former trade unionist that they had instructions to take him to Harare Central Station had earlier on Thursday taken Tsvangirai from his bed.

This followed indications by police Wednesday that they would summon him for questioning.

MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said Tsvangirai was sleeping when police arrived to take him away at 6AM.

Chamisa said: "The MDC condemns the overt Zanu PF machinations to abuse the police to settle political scores with those who are genuinely fighting for democratic change in Zimbabwe.

"Police have now formally charged President Morgan Tsvangirai with disorderly conduct, which they claim is in violation of a section of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, following his tour of shops to assess the
impact of the government's populist move to slash prices.

"It is ironic how the police can describe a tour of shops and supermarkets as disorderly conduct. In any case, the charge is a violation of president Tsvangirai's constitutional rights to freedom of movement, conscience and association, among other basic freedoms."

On Monday, Tsvangirai was accosted at the Harare International Airport by Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri who verbally abused him.

Chihuri launched a tirade at Tsvangirai whom he accused of having applied pressure on the Australian government to deport children of Zanu PF officials from that country.

His son, Sylvester, was deported Monday and was on the same plane with Tsvangirai, who was returning from meeting Australian Prime Minister John Howard.

Last month, Australia announced it would revoke student visas for eight children of senior members of President Robert Mugabe’s regime.

Foreign Affairs Minister Alexander Downer announced the measure as part of a strengthening of sanctions against Zimbabwe, admitting the children were “paying for the sins of their fathers”.

Zanu PF officials’ known children who were in Australia include Sylvester Chihuri, Tendai Nguni, son of Sylvester Nguni the Minister of Economic Planning; Kudzai Muchena, son of Olivia Muchena the Minister for Science and Technology; and Thelma Chombo, the daughter of Local Government Minister Ignatius Chombo.

The others were Taona Karimanzira, the son of Harare Provincial Governor David Karimanzira and Emmerson Mnangagwa Jnr, the son of Emmerson Mnangagwa. Reserve Bank governor Gideon Gono’s twin daughters Pride and Praise and his son Passion were also ordered out.

The deportations have stoked political tensions, with government officials accusing Tsvangirai of triggering the deportations.
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