Transform Zimbabwe Press Statement

FOR IMMEDIATE RELEASE

CONTACT: Sungai Mazando, Communications Secretary
transformzim@gmail.com or sungimazando@gmail.com or +263 773 425 250
TRANSFORM ZIMBABWE MEMBERS CONTINUE TO BE HARASSED BY ZIMBABWE LAW ENFORCEMENT AGENTS

It has been a hectic week for Transform Zimbabwe members in Manicaland and Binga as they spent inordinate amounts of time at the hands of law enforcement agents. After drumming up spurious charges, the police have since released all TZ volunteers who have gone straight back to preaching the gospel of the total Transformation of Zimbabwe.
In Binga, a TZ member, Mr. Siyachimbo was detained at the Binga police station and was subjected to unwarranted interrogation after the TZ Binga leadership held an executive meeting comprising only 5 members a day before. Police pressed charges alleging “failure to notify the regulatory authorities that you were holding a meeting”, attending officer was detective Matata (+263 774 109 849). Mr Siyachimbo was only released on condition that he should bring all the other TZ members who were present at the meeting.
In Nyanyadzi, early in the morning police stormed the house where part of the TZ team was hosted, alleging that a meeting had been held at the house. Subsequently another TZ member, Mr Chao was detained at Nyanyadzi police station (Member in Charge-Mr Mbuwa). The police, amongst a barrage of other unfounded allegations, also threatened to use force against TZ members for using the “V” symbol which the police said was synonymous with the Arab spring. The “V” symbol when used by TZ, stands for the party`s imminent VICTORY in the next elections. Mr Chao was only released on condition that he brings all the other TZ members who were present at the house on the day of the alleged meeting.
Transform Zimbabwe unequivocally condemns this attack on the party’s constitutional liberties by the state through the detention and harassment of its members who are peacefully drumming up grassroots support for the party. Transform Zimbabwe is once again challenging the police to conduct themselves in a non-partisan and professional manner, and live up to their Constitutional duty to protect all citizens irrespective of their gender, ethnic origin, or political affiliation.
Undeterred by the intimidation and harassment, TZ went on with its meeting at Nyanyadzi-Chishakwe Growth point later in the day. The meeting was attended by a couple of hundreds and it was the 12th meeting in the area. Transform Zimbabwe have recently been touring the Manicaland province and meeting the people to promote the message of national transformation. The groundswell of support for the new party is fast gathering momentum and the party has grown to over 100 000 since launching in December 2013.