Citizens Coalition for Change faction leader Jameson Timba, his 19-year-old son and close to 70 other party activists were arrested on Sunday while gathered at his residence, police said.
The event at Timba’s Avondale home was to commemorate International Youth Day, held annually to mark the June 16 Soweto Uprising, his lawyer Agency Gumbo said.
“They violated no law,” Gumbo said.
Police spokesman Commissioner Paul Nyathi said: “I can confirm that 70 suspects were arrested at Jameson Timba’s house in Harare for conducting an unsanctioned gathering.
“Police, who were acting on a tip-off, raided the house leading to the arrests. During the arrests, they became violent and started throwing stones at the police officers. Reinforcements were later called in.”
Former Mt Pleasant MP Fadzayi Mahere, who visited Timba, said the former Harare senator was not present when riot police arrived.
She narrated: “He gave use of his home to youth activists who wanted to commemorate International Youth Day. It was a private commemoration that would include a braai and other youth-focused activities.
“He left them at it while he went to celebrate Father’s Day with his son who is about to go to university in the United States. He then received a call a while later to be told armed riot police had blocked off his home and thrown teargas into his garden.
“He immediately drove home with his son only to see the police arresting everyone at his home, including tenants who had nothing to do with the meeting and those randomly walking in the road he lives in. They were beaten severely with baton sticks. He was arrested on arrival.” ZimLive.
