Bad week for MDC

Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) came under fire again this week when its leader Morgan Tsvangirai was once more taken in for questioning. With less than a week to go before his return to court on treason charges, Tsvangirai was "invited" to go to the Harare central police station on Thursday in connection with a statement he made at a political rally. MDC legal affairs spokesman David Coltart said Tsvangirai was accused of saying there was a plan to remove President Robert Mugabe from power, in violation of Section 5 of the controversial Public Order and Security Act. Section 5 prohibits overthrowing the president through unconstitutional means and carries a maximum sentence of 20 years, he explained. "This is clearly another case of harassment. We are planning to get rid of Mugabe's government, but in an entirely constitutional manner. As legal secretary for the party I have been filing petitions under the Electoral Act and the MDC has always been committed to working within the laws of the country, and to non-violence," Coltart said. "Virtually every single one of us [MDC leaders] is faced with a charge," he added. "I was charged with firing a weapon and I don't even own one." Tsvangirai was questioned for an hour, cautioned, and released but on Thursday night, MDC MP for Kadoma Central, Austin Mupandawana, was arrested. The state-controlled Herald reported that this followed allegations that four people were injured by shots fired from his convoy. The allegations come ahead of a mayoral election in the city, west of Harare. Meanwhile, the MDC staged a symblic walk-out at the opening of Parliament this week but returned after Mugabe had made his opening address. The MDC suffered an unexpected blow to its image this week when one of its spokesmen, Learnmore Jongwe, allegedly confessed to stabbing his wife to death.