Another war veterans leader arrested in Zim

ZIMBABWEAN police arrested another senior member of the war veterans’ association yesterday, in a growing crackdown on critics of President Robert Mugabe after a series of rare protests.

Mugabe, 92, who has ruled since 1980, has faced a groundswell of opposition in recent months as the country’s moribund economy collapses and the government struggles to pay its workforce.

The war veterans, previously loyal supporters of the president, released a highly critical statement two weeks ago attacking Mugabe as dictatorial and accusing him of being unable to address Zimbabwe’s problems.

A new non-partisan opposition movement known as #ThisFlag has also galvanised anti-government sentiment in Zimbabwe, where security forces have crushed signs of dissent for decades.

Victor Matemadanda, secretary-general of the Zimbabwe National Liberation War Veterans’ Association (ZNLWVA), was taken away by police at a court hearing of a colleague facing charges of insulting Mugabe.

An AFP correspondent saw detectives take Matemadanda from a group of independence war veterans, who had gathered outside the court for the bail hearing of association spokesman Douglas Mahiya.

“When we find out who the people were . . . the punishment will be severe,” Mugabe said last week, of the unsigned authors of the war veterans’ statement.

The police spokeswoman was not available to comment on any charges against Matemadanda.

Scores of sympathisers and rights activists attended Mahiya’s court hearing in Harare yesterday, including former vicepresident Joice Mujuru, now the leader of a new opposition party.

Mahiya was granted $300 (R4 170) bail and released. – AFP