Opposition MPs arrested as they entered parliament

MDC Press Release:

Two MDC Members of Parliament, Hon Shuwa Mudiwa, Member of Parliament for Mutare West and Hon Elia Jembere of Epworth have been arrested just outside Parliament as they were entering the Parliamentary Bilding for the swearing in of Members of Parliament. The police attempted to arrest Hon Elton Mangoma, who is also one of the representatives of the MDC at the negotiations, but Hon Mangoma was rescued by other MDC Members of Parliament. Clearly the sinister agenda of this regime is to tilt the balance of numbers in their favour during the voting for the Speaker of Parliament.

More from the BBC:

Two Zimbabwean MPs have been arrested, as they were due to be sworn in five months after disputed elections, an opposition spokesman says.

They were detained as they entered parliament, said Nelson Chamisa.

He said the police wanted to arrest 15 MPs, to ensure the ruling party wins the vote for the speaker of parliament.

Zanu-PF lost its parliamentary majority for the first time since independence in the the March polls. Power-sharing talks are currently deadlocked.

Opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai has warned that the opening of parliament could jeopardise the talks.

The balance of power in the new parliament is held by a breakaway faction from Mr Tsvangirai’s MDC.

The election of a speaker is expected to be a close vote.

In the House of Assembly, Mr Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) has one seat more than President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF, while a smaller MDC faction has 10 seats.

The MDC had warned that 15 of its MPs would not attend the swearing-in ceremony, as they were in hiding following a state-sponsored campaign of violence.

But a party spokesman said they would turn up.

“The police have arrested our MP for Mutare West, Shuah Mudiwa. They went into parliament and literally pulled him out and went away with him,” Mr Chamisa told the AFP news agency.

“We have been informed they want to arrest 15 MPs. It’s all about the vote for the speaker. Nothing to do with the law.”

The police have not commented on the arrests but they have accused the MDC of being behind the violence.

Ahead of Monday’s swearing-in, Mr Mugabe appointed three non-constituency members of parliament’s upper house, the Senate, and eight provincial governors, state media said.

“Clearly they have chosen the path of arrogance, unilateralism that’s a serious blow to confidence-building in the talks,” Mr Chamisa told Reuters news agency.

After the parliamentary elections in March, both MDC factions said they would work together, however, they have each nominated candidates for the position of speaker of parliament.

The swearing-in of parliamentarians will seek to convey a sense of business as usual in Zimbabwe, says the BBC’s Karen Allen.

Zanu-PF has the most seats in the Senate and Mr Mugabe has the power to appoint a further 15 members, along with 18 traditional chiefs, seen as pro-Zanu-PF.

The South Africans-mediated talks are stalled over how powers should be divided between Mr Mugabe and Mr Tsvangirai, who could be named to fill the new post of prime minister.

The opening of parliament in Harare comes with the blessing of the regional body, the Southern African Development Community (SADC).

Mr Tsvangirai won the first presidential round in March, before pulling out of a June run-off citing a campaign of violence against his supporters.

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