By Wezhira Munya
In a painful development, the Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) Masvingo Provincial Chairperson, Mr. Calvin Muvheyi, was arrested yesterday and appeared before Masvingo Magistrate Sibanda today. The magistrate has remanded Muvheyi into Masvingo Remand Prison until Monday, 12th August 2024.
The bail hearing could not proceed after the investigation officer said he is sick.
Muvheyi’s lawyer, Advocate Collins Maboke, confirmed that his client is currently in remand prison and will return to court on Monday. This means Muvheyi will spend three nights in prison, including the day he was arrested.
The young pro-Chamisa member was apprehended while attending a court session for the Masvingo City Council Town Clerk, Mr. Mukaratirwa, who is facing corruption charges. According to Masvingo-based human rights lawyer and Member of Parliament for Masvingo Urban, Mr. Martin Mureri, who was also present in court, said the arrest of Muvheyi is unjustified.
Hon. Mureri stated that the arrest appears to be a case of mistaken identity after analyzing the message allegedly posted by Muvheyi on a WhatsApp platform and police arrested Muvheyi as a way to deter others who want to demonstrate. Advocate Mureri said, demonstrations are enshrined in section 59 of Zimbabwe Constitution. The message, which was reportedly shared by Zanu PF Ward 10 Masvingo Urban Councillor, Mr. Manyanga, encouraged Masvingo youth members to demonstrate against Zanu PF President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s chairmanship on 17th August 2024.
Muvheyi was arrested on allegations of “contravening Section 187(1) as read with Section 36 of the Criminal Law (Codifications and Reform) Act” for posting the message on the WhatsApp platform. However, Muvheyi vehemently denies the allegations, stating that the cellphone number used to send the message is not his.
This incident has sparked outrage among students, pro-Chamisa lieutenants, and human rights activists, who have condemned the arrest as a blatant attempt to silence dissent and quash the growing student movement in the country. Masvingo Senator Maggie Chakabuda, a pro-Chamisa politician, described the arrest as a “clear abuse of power and a violation of Calvin’s fundamental rights” due to the mistaken identity.
The arrest of Muvheyi comes amid heightened political tensions in Zimbabwe, as the country prepares to host the SADC summit, which is expected to draw regional leaders and international observers. The government has been accused of clamping down on dissent and restricting civil liberties in the run-up to the event. rights organizations and pro-democracy groups have called for the immediate release of Muvheyi and have vowed to continue their efforts to defend the rights of students and young activists in Zimbabwe. They view this incident as a troubling sign of the government’s tactics to suppress dissenting voices and stifle the growing student movement in the country.
The case of Muvheyi has drawn significant attention and has become a focal point for the ongoing struggle for civil liberties and democratic rights in Zimbabwe. As the country navigates through this politically charged period, the fate of Muvheyi and the broader student movement will continue to be closely watched by both domestic and international observers.
