Politics

Zimbabwe: Police arrest opposition MP, Costa Machingauta, others over ‘unauthorised’ meeting

Published

2 years ago

January 14, 2023

On Saturday, a Zimbabwean opposition member of parliament, Costa Machingauta was arrested on the outskirts of Harare with 24 others while holding a party meeting.

The party, Citizens Coalition for Change (CCC) said confirmed that Riot police stormed the home of the politician who was allegedly molested by his wife and their 17-year-old daughter was beaten by police at their home in the suburb of Budiriro, south of Harare.

According to the spokesperson of the Police, Paul Nyathi, the meeting was unauthorized and those arrested would be charged with breaching public order.

“We confirm the arrest of the CCC activists. They were attending an unauthorized meeting,” Nyathi told newsmen.

Nyathi did not comment on the accusations of beating the MP and his family but assured that more details on the operation would be provided on Sunday.

CCC spokeswoman Fadzayi Mahere accused the ruling ZANU-PF party of using the police against political opponents.

A large number of police officers laid siege to Machingauta’s house on Saturday before violently breaking up the meeting, Mahere said, adding that another influential CCC member of parliament, Amos Chibaya, was arrested.

“Armed police officers beat up Machingauta’s wife and daughter and set up a roadblock to his home… We want elections, not war,” she said.

She maintained that the rules governing public order do not apply to such a private meeting.

We want elections, not war,” she said.

There has been growing discontent in the South African country, whose president, Emmerson Mnangagwa, succeeded Robert Mugabe in 2017 following a military-backed coup.

The government recently approved a proposed law that will punish ‘unpatriotic” citizens who criticises the government in what opposition figures.

Related Topics:Costa Machingauta Featured Zimbabwe

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Politics

Burkina Faso releases 4 French spies after Moroccan intervention

Published

3 days ago

December 20, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

In a diplomatic spat over their imprisonment, France and Morocco announced Thursday that four French nationals detained in Burkina Faso for a year had been freed after mediation from Morocco.

They were spies, according to a prior statement made by the director of France’s foreign intelligence organisation, the DGSE.

A request for comment was not answered by the DGSE or a representative of the French military, which is in charge of the agency.

Since December 2023, they have been held in Ouagadougou.

President Emmanuel Macron hailed King Mohammed of Morocco on Wednesday for his intervention, “which made possible the liberation of our four countrymen who had been held in Burkina Faso for a year,” according to a statement from the French administration.

King Mohammed and President Ibrahim Traore of Burkina Faso were also commended by Morocco’s foreign ministry, which stated that “this humanitarian act” was made possible by their positive bilateral ties.

In October, France made peace with Morocco, one of its former protectorates, after three years of hostilities between Paris and Rabat stoked by immigration concerns and the disputed Western Sahara region.

Morocco offers Burkina Faso and other military-ruled Sahel republics Atlantic trade.

However, France’s relations with former West and Central African colonies, such as Burkina Faso, remain difficult. In Ouagadougou, French troops and diplomats were ejected, the defence attache and ambassador were asked to depart, and certain French media were suspended.

The military junta that took control in 2022 in Burkina Faso has been criticized by international rights groups for cracking down on free expression and harassing dissidents to handle a security crisis precipitated by Al Qaeda and Islamic State extremists.

Politics

Ghana: President-elect Mahama appoints anti-corruption team

Published

3 days ago

December 19, 2024

Ifeoluwa Dada

According to a statement released by his transition team on Wednesday, Ghana’s President-elect, John Dramani Mahama, has designated an anti-corruption committee to investigate allegations of wrongdoing.

When he takes office next month, Mahama, the leading opposition candidate in the presidential election held on December 7 and who received almost 56% of the vote, has pledged to reclaim the proceeds of corruption and hold those responsible for it accountable.

In anticipation, an anti-graft squad has been established. The parliament’s Committee on Assurances, which has previously raised suspicions of governmental corruption, is chaired by MP Samuel Okudzeto Ablakwah.

An investigative journalist, a private attorney, a former auditor general, and a former police officer with experience in high-profile robbery cases make up the other three members.

After looking into alleged financial irregularities that took place during the previous administration, Daniel Dumelovo, the former auditor general, was fired.

Recovering lost assets and fighting corruption were two of Mahama’s main campaign pledges.

“He intends to hit the ground running on these commitments,” the statement said.

Eight years after leaving office, former President Mahama is back to head the West African country. Despite not being personally contaminated, he faced criticism during his 2012–2016 administration due to claims of political corruption.