Zim police detain minister
2009-07-29 09:29
Harare - Zimbabwe's deputy youth minister was arrested on Tuesday over a stolen cell phone prompting a warning by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai's party that its lawmakers were being harassed.
Thamsanqa Mahlangu, who is also the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party's youth leader, was arrested at his offices and taken to Harare Central police station in connection with the theft.
"The circumstances are mysterious but we are noticing a disturbing trend of MDC people being detained and prosecuted on dubious and trumped up charges," party spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said.
The party claims that President Robert Mugabe's Zanu-PF party is trying to reduce the MDC's slim parliamentary majority.
Tsvangirai joined Mugabe in a unity government in February.
Trumped-up charges
Malangu's arrest came in the wake of a renewed clampdown on MDC lawmakers and ministers with at least seven members of Parliament facing "trumped-up charges", the MDC said in a statement.
Police spokesperson Wayne Bvudzijena said the deputy minister was identified by two women as the man having given the stolen phone to them.
"I confirm Mr Thamsanqa Mahlangu was picked up by the police in connection with the theft of a cell phone," he said.
The MDC has complained that its supporters continue to be targeted and is also treating as a death threat the sending of a live bullet to Finance Minister Tendai Biti, the MDC secretary general, on Monday.
The power-sharing government was formed nearly a year after presidential polls in a bid to rescue the country from its severe political and economic crisis.
- SAPA
