MT DARWIN - Police in Mt Darwin, Mashonaland Central province broke an MDC organ meeting called to discuss the MDC constitution position and arrested all 52 activists in attendance, The Changing Times can report. The ill-fated meeting was held at the MDC district office in Mt Darwin on 30 January 2010.

The meeting was called by the party district executive to discuss its position on the constitution-making process and to appraise party structures. Gun-toting officers baton-charged the activists who had gathered at the MDC district office, rounding them up and detaining them under unspecified charges. The Changing Times was told that police details burst into the office where the meeting was in progress and declared that everyone was under arrest. No charges were preferred against the activists.

There was commotion as police officers force-marched the 52 to the police station, with the activists vigorously resisting arrest. The officers viciously assaulted the activists, but released some without charge. At least 11 were detained, with police accusing them of being ring-leaders. The 11 detained at Mt Darwin Police Station are the MDC Provincial Secretary Jonathan Kapasi, Provincial Vice Youth Chairman Norbert Dhokotera, John Machaka, Rickson Kaseke, Oliver Hove, Justin Nziramasanga, Brian Pongweni, Nyaugaswa Madzudzo Gora and Sam Chari.

The 11 MDC activists were on 31 January transferred to the Bindura Police Station Law and Order Section, where they were still held at the time of going to print last night. They were due to appear in court, although no specific charges have been preferred against them, although police claim the meeting breached security laws. The provincial vehicle, party position papers on the constitution-making process and about 500 copies of The Changing Times newsletter were impounded by police.

The meeting in question was lawful in all constitutional respects because it was an indoor meeting for the MDC which even under the draconian Public Order and Security Act requires no prior clearance by the police. There are fears that this could mark the beginning of a campaign by Zanu PF to abuse state machinery to stile the constitution making process. Recently, Zanu PF launched its own parallel constitution-making process at the nearby Border Gezi training center in Mt Darwin, a process launched by second Zanu PF secretary, Joice Mujuru.

The Changing Times understands 20 brand new Nissan twin cab vehicles have been deployed in the province to ferry thugs who are intimidating people in the rural and farming community of the province against participating in the constitutional outreach meetings due to commence soon. Meanwhile the Law and Order section in Bindura is reportedly hunting for the MDC’s deputy organizing secretary, Senator Morgen Komichi and Mashonaland Central provincial chairman Biggie Chigonero, in connection with statements they made at a rally held at Chiwaridzo Business Centre on 24 January 2010. Police claim they denigrated Zanu PF secretary Robert Mugabe. Meanwhile, about 10 Bindura university students have been suspended from college following a solidarity message they delivered at the same rally in which they reaffirmed their support for the MDC. A peaceful demonstration against a hike in tuition at the college has also been cited as reason for their suspension.