By Seke Correspondent
CCC Councillor, Alice Tsingano Denied Bail: Targeting of Opposition Female Activists Raises Concerns in Zimbabwe
Seke Rural Constituency’s Ward 5 councillor-elect, Alice Tsingano, a member of the CCC, was denied bail for the fourth time at the Chitungwiza magistrate court yesterday. She has been remanded in custody until the 22nd of September for another bail hearing.
Ms. Tsingano was arrested on the 10th of August at Ziko Police Post in Dema, Seke Rural Constituency. She is being accused of violence, although these allegations are false. She went to the Ziko police post as a victim to report violence perpetrated by the ZANU PF militia in Ward 5, led by Tafadzwa Chitate and Lovemore Mangwende. Upon her arrival at the police post, ZANU PF MP Candidate Tobias ‘Maoresa’ Kazhambe was already there, making a false report against Alice Tsingano.
This raises concerns that the Harare regime is specifically targeting opposition female activists. Just recently, the Harare deputy mayor was arrested on false allegations of insulting a ZANU PF supporter before the 23rd August election.
Many political analysts believe that the victimization of opposition female activists is discouraging women from participating in politics.
Notably, CCC top officials such as Job Skhala have been imprisoned for over a year without trial. It is important to inform the world that the military dictatorship in Zimbabwe is reverting to past patterns, reminiscent of the early 1980s when they were responsible for the Matebeleland genocide known as Gukurahundi, resulting in the deaths of 20,000 citizens (as reported by the Roman Catholic Church). Even FC ZAPU and liberation war heroes like the late General Mafela Lookout Masuku and Dumiso Dabengwa were detained in maximum-security prisons for over three years, despite being acquitted by the Supreme Court, which is the highest court in the land. The current regime leaders were directly responsible for the Gukurahundi massacre.
It is crucial to remind the world that Zimbabwe is currently under a ruthless and oppressive military dictatorship led by ED Mnangagwa, masquerading as a democratic government.
The harmonized elections have faced condemnation from regional blocs such as SADC and AU.
Critics argue that by arresting opposition MPs like the CCC deputy spokesperson Ostalos Siziba and Maurine Kademaunga, the regime is targeting a 2/3 majority in parliament to amend the constitution and allow ED Mnangagwa to rule indefinitely, others say Emerson Mnangagwa is trying to force CCC President Nelson Chamisa to the negotiation table through harassing, arresting, torturing, violence, and intimidation of CCC leaders, members and supporters..
The CCC leadership should mount a diplomatic offense against the Harare regime. The CCC party should consider sending a delegation to SADC, AU, and the UN to demand a fresh election, as the 23rd August harmonized election was condemned by all observer groups as disgraceful and lacking credibility.
