Zimbabawe: Four opposition MDC MPs arrested

(SomaliNet) Bringing the total number of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) MPs to five currently in custody, four MDC MPs were arrested on Tuesday in Harare, police said.

The MDC had earlier said in a statement released in Johannesburg South Africa that three of its MPs had been arrested at the parliament on Tuesday, where President Robert Mugabe was jeered by the opposition during his traditional speech opening the legislature after March 29 elections.

\"Besides (MDC member of parliament for Epworth) Eliah Jembere arrested yesterday (Monday) on a warrant of arrest, the latest arrests are of Pearson Mungofa (Highfield East), Bednoc Nyaude (Bindura South), Matthew Mlambo (Chipinge East) and Trevor Saruwaka (Mutasa Central),\" police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena said in the statement.

Bvudzijena said Mungofa was arrested for allegedly causing disaffection among the security forces, Nyaude for attempted murder, Mlambo for inciting public violence and Saruwaka for raping a 17-year-old relative on Sunday.

The arrests \"on trumped-up charges of political violence is meant to frustrate the people\'s project following MDC\'s victory in parliament in the 29 March harmonised elections,\" the MDC statement said.

\"MDC views this continued harrassment and arrest of MDC legislators by the state security agents as a direct affront to the will of the people of Zimbabwe,\" it added. - Sapa-AFP