The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has confirmed the arrest of 40 members of the opposition Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) party in the Harare suburb of Machipisa.
According to CCC spokesperson Fadzayi Mahere, the group was arrested following a roadshow they held in Machipisa earlier in the day. She said the CCC members are currently detained at Glenview Police Station and are being represented by lawyer Kudzai Kadzere.
Police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi said in a statement that the 40 individuals were arrested for allegedly breaching peace regulations under the Maintenance of Order and Peace Act. He claimed the CCC convenor and others had initially notified authorities of a rally in Churu Farm but later diverted to Machipisa without permission.
Nyathi further alleged that in Machipisa, the CCC supporters openly blocked traffic while chanting party slogans from their vehicles. He said a member of the public reported the incident to police, who then acted to arrest the 40 people led by Grandmore Hakata. Nyathi added that Hakata resisted arrest.
The ZRP spokesperson also said they recovered three trucks and radio speakers used by the CCC supporters.
The arrests come just one week before Zimbabwe’s watershed elections. The CCC, the main opposition party challenging ZANU-PF in the upcoming elections, has faced obstacles campaigning, with supporters reportedly arrested, injured or killed.
