A senior Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) official has reportedly sought asylum in Namibia as the crackdown on opposition members suspected to be behind the violent protests that rocked the country a fortnight ago, continues.
According to media reports in that country, Charlton Hwende who is the Member of Parliament for Kuwadzana East Constituency and the party`s Deputy Treasurer, reportedly approached the Inspector-General of the Namibian Police Sebastian Ndeitunga asking protection.
MDC president Nelson Chamisa this week accused the Zanu PF led government of crippling the operations of the opposition party by targeting its officials.
According to Chamisa, 43 party officials have gone into hiding while five MPs are languishing in prison on various charges.
Hwende is on the police wanted list in connection with the #Shutdown protests.
In a report in the New Era newspaper, Hwende`s lawyer Norman Tjombe wrote to the Namibian police chief requesting protection “against unlawful abduction and the possible rendition to Zimbabwe at the hands of Central Intelligence Organisation”.
“Should our client not be afforded the necessary protection, our client will not hesitate to approach the High Court of Namibia on an urgent basis for appropriate order, including an interdict,” read Tjombe’s letter.
Tjombe claimed his client was in the country to visit relatives although there are fears he might be arrested if he returns to Zimbabwe.
“In the course of January 2019, our client was informed, through reliable sources, that members of the Zimbabwean intelligence agency, namely the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), travelled to Namibia to abduct and rendition him (Hwende) to Zimbabwe where he is apparently wanted for treason, incitement to commit public violence and other charges,” further reads the letter.
“According to the information, the members of the CIO already arrived in Namibia on or before 28 January 2019,” added the letter.
Yesterday MDC organising secretary Amos Chibaya was granted $500 bail on allegations of inciting violence and was immediately rearrested on charges of plotting to overthrow the Government.
Former Zanu-PF Mashonaland Central provincial chairman Itai Dickson Mafios was yesterday slapped with a two year prison sentence for inciting people in Bindura to join the violent protests.
Bindura provincial magistrate Vongai Guwuriro suspended 10 months of the sentence on condition of good behaviour.
