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Tsvangirai's lawyer arrested
11/04/2008 11:30 - (SA)
Harare - Police in Zimbabwe have arrested opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai's lawyer on charges related to a helicopter hired for his presidential campaign, the opposition and a lawyer said on Friday.
Innocent Chagonda, who had represented Tsvangirai in several high-profile cases - including a treason trial after which he was acquitted in 2004 - was arrested for demanding that police release the confiscated craft, they said.
But Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) said the arrest on Thursday was part of a wider campaign to clamp down on the opposition in the wake of March 29 elections.
"As a party we feel this is a sustained effort on the part of the authorities against people who assist the MDC," said spokesperson Nelson Chamisa.
"This is an onslaught which is not only happening in the rural areas, but even in the civil service as people who are perceived MDC supporters are being intimidated."
Pilot arrested in Zim
The police did not immediately confirm Chagonda's detention, but fellow lawyer Chris Mhike said: "He was arrested yesterday and he is still in police cells right now.
"They arrested him for causing disaffection within the police force after he demanded that a helicopter, which had been hired to transport Mr Tsvangirai about two weeks ago be released as the police were still holding on to it, although the pilot had been freed by the police."
Chagonda had also been accused of "interfering with police work", Mhike said, adding that the opposition would file an urgent application at the high court for his immediate release.
The pilot, a South African national, was detained on March 25 for alleged fraud and immigration transgressions and spent nine days behind bars before being freed.
The opposition said President Robert Mugabe's regime had launched a widespread crackdown on them and their supporters as the country awaits the result of the presidential election, which Tsvangirai claimed to have won.
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