The arrest and detention of Advocate Thabani Mpofu

03 June 2020

PRESS RELEASE

RE:  The arrest and  detention of Advocate Thabani Mpofu

The Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) condemns in the strongest terms the arrest and detention of lawyer Thabani Mpofu.
 
Adv. Mpofu presented himself to the police on 1 June 2020 following an alleged raid at his Harare residence by 11 armed officers. He is being charged with among other charges obstruction of justice.

The ZCTU is worried that the State is now resorting to arresting people in order to investigate instead of the other way.  What is also worrying is that a person who voluntarily present himself to the police is detained for long periods without justification.  We believe this is all about intimidation and harassment of independent lawyers.

This is not the first time that human rights lawyers have been subjected to this treatment.  During Robert Mugabe’s regime lawyers  Beatrice Mtetwa and Alec Muchadehama were also victims.

The Zimbabwean authorities have a penchant to shoot themselves in the foot. For the latest episode they have no one to blame for bad publicity that has ensued.  Zimbabwe will remain a pariah state as long as authorities do not change their conduct .

Adv. Mpofu is well known for his role in  representing the MDC Alliance in the disputed 2018 Presidential elections and most view his arrest as political in order to fix government opponents.

The arrest of Adv Mpofu has put paid to all pretences by the Mnangagwa regime that we are in a new  dispensation where civil rights are respected.

Japhet Moyo
SECRETARY GENERAL