Madhuku charged, released after 12 hours

Madhuku charged, released after 12 hours

MADHUKU: Charged and released

• Madhuku arrested in dawn raid

• Zim holds public hearing on NGO Bill

• Economic cost of NGO Bill

• NGOs set to march on Harare

• NCA demo thwarted, 41 held in NGO Bill protests

• Mugabe says NGOs plotting 'regime change'

• Zimbabwe labour union leaders released

• Majongwe arrested for 'addressing students'

By Agencies

ZIMBABWE police charged the leader of a civic rights group today with breaching security laws over a protest last week against a proposed law barring foreign rights groups, his lawyer said.

Lawyer Alec Muchadehama said police released Lovemore Madhuku, the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) chairperson, after detaining him for nearly 12 hours and charging him with trying to hold a march without police approval.

"Police said they were carrying out further investigations, after which Madhuku might be summoned to court," he said. The NCA - a coalition of human rights groups, political parties and student and church organisations - organised the march last week to protest against the planned new law, which would block foreign funding for local bodies.

Earlier, Wayne Bvudzijena, a police spokesperson, said they wanted to question Madhuku about a petrol bomb police say they discovered during the march and his role in the protest. "We want to find out whether he was the convener of the demonstration last week," Bvudzijena said. "There was a person who had a petrol bomb which was recovered during the demonstration so we are questioning Madhuku about it."

Police arrested 44 activists during the march and charged them with breaching Zimbabwe's Public Order and Security Act. They were freed after paying fines. The NCA has lobbied for constitutional reforms in Zimbabwe since 1999. President Robert Mugabe's government accuses some non-governmental organisations (NGOs) of working with Western nations to undermine his rule.

Mugabe has said the proposed law would help rationalise the NGO sector, which he says has been used as a conduit for foreigners to interfere in Zimbabwe's affairs. Rights groups have slammed the law, part of a package of laws proposed by the 80-year-old veteran leader.

They say the laws are intended to undercut opposition ahead of next year's parliamentary elections and muzzle government critics. - Reuters
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