By Wezhira Munya

 

Citizens Coalition for Change [CCC] members in Masvingo West who were arrested and detained at Criminal Investigation Department [CID] Law and Order, Masvingo Central Police Station were set free by the court today.

 

The two arrested CCC members are brothers namely: Prillan Ziyavo and Bothwell Ziyavo.

 

According to their lawyer Advocate Frank Chirairo, the two CCC members were released after Zanu PF member Mr Persistence Chiondegwa withdrew the case.

 

“I can confirm that the two CCC Masvingo West members: Prillan Ziyavo and Bothwell Ziyawo were set free by the chief prosecutor at Masvingo magistrate court after Zanu PF member Mr Persistence Chiondengwa withdrew the case.”, said Advocate Frank Chirairo.

 

In addition, Advocate Chirairo went on to say, “The two accused persons were arrested on 28th August 2023 at around 16:00 hours in Kingmine, Mashava.”

 

The two were allegedly assaulted by Zanu-PF thugs, led by Mr. Persistence Chiondegwa, as a punishment for refusing to comply with the instructions given to all residents. They were told to inform the officers that they cannot write and therefore need assistance in voting. “The true facts are that my clients were assaulted by Persistence Chiondegwa [a Zanu PF member] and other Zanu PF members for having refused to be assisted in the voting process on the 23rd of August 2023 during the harmonized elections.”

 

It was widely reported across the country that Zanu PF and Forever Associates of Zimbabwe (FAZ) were coercing voters to vote for Zanu PF candidates. They were targeting mainly known CCC supporters.

 

FAZ literally camped a few meters away from polling stations on the 23rd of August 2023, recording voters’ names before and after they voted.

 

Advocate Chirairo went on to say, “The two accused persons defended themselves from the unlawful attack by Zanu PF members and filed a police report in Mashava.”

 

As usual, ZanuPF had to use the police to direct the accusations to the victim. “In a turn of events, after Zanu PF members used their political influence, the two CCC members were then arrested as perpetrators of violence”, said Advocate Chirairo.

 

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