The MP for Mutare West in Manicaland province, Hon. Shuah Mudiwa, was on Saturday sentenced to seven years in prison on false charges of kidnapping.

Allegations against the MP are that he and two other MDC supporters kidnapped a 13 year-old girl in his constituency during the run-up to the 27 June, 2008 presidential run-off.

Two and a half years of the sentence were suspended.

Hon. Mudiwa, today filed papers at the Mutare Magistrates’ Courts appealing against his imprisonment.

The MDC views the sentencing of Hon. Mudiwa as an attempt by Zanu PF and other retrogressive forces in the inclusive government to whittle down the party’s majority in parliament.

The MDC is the majority party in parliament after winning 100 seats in the House of Assembly in 29 March 2008 harmonised elections.

Several other MDC MPs are also facing trumped-up charges on various allegations.

Addressing at the Day of the African Child commemorations at Africa Unity Square Gardens , the MDC Youth Assembly chairperson, Hon. Thamsanqa Mahlangu said the MDC youths were concerned by the insincerity that was being shown by Zanu PF.

“The inclusive government should ensure that students also get an opportunity to go tertiary education and have free access to drugs,” he added.

Over 10 000 MDC youths from across the country converged at the venue to celebrate the event.

The guest speaker at the commemorations, Hon. Nelson Chamisa, said the youths of Zimbabwe should demand their rights.

“The drafting of a people-driven Constitution gives you an opportunity to have your voice heard.  In 18 months time, we will have an opportunity to hold elections and as youths your voice will be heard,” he said.

The commemorations were attended by among other delegates, the Minister of Energy, Hon. Elias Mudzuri and the MP for Sunningdale, Hon. Margret Matienga.      

The MDC youths also took a moment of silence to observe MDC youths who have died in the struggle for a new Zimbabwe who include Tonderai Ndira, Godfrey Kauzani, Better Chokururama and Mthokozisi Ncube and Batanai Hadzizi among others.

Today, Justice Uchena has had to postpone his judgement for the third time as the State is contesting the referral of the case to the Supreme Court.

The four MDC activists, Concillia Chinanzvavana, the MDC Mashonaland West province Women Assembly chairperson, 72-year old Fidelis Chiramba, Zvimba South district chairperson, Violet Mupfuranhewe, district Women’s Assembly secretary and Collen Mutemagawu, district youth chairperson are facing trumped-up charges of banditry.

They were abducted together with over 40 MDC activists between October and December and had to spend weeks in illegal detention before they were brought to court on 24 December.

The trial of the four started on Monday and the MDC lawyers filed a petition to refer the case to the Constitutional Court because the rights of the accused were violated. The lawyers also wanted the Constitutional Court to determine whether or not the abductees’ abduction constituted lawful deprivation of liberty.

On Tuesday the State argued that the submissions by the defence lawyers were “frivolous and the lawyers were playing with the court’s time.”

The MDC lawyers also want the Supreme Court to determine whether or not the abductees can be compelled to go on trial in circumstances where their appearance at court was facilitated by a criminal act of kidnapping or abduction sanctioned by the State.

Two other groups of MDC and civic society abductees are expected to appear before the High Court later this month.

The MDC acknowledges the important role played by legislators in both the upper and lower houses on issues of community development, feedback forums in their constituencies and the frequent consultative processes that are required to keep their constituents info rmed about what their representatives are doing in Parliament.

As a party, we are aware of the need for MPs to have instruments of delivery such as offices, computers and vehicles. The issue of their vehicles should be handled by through the Vehicle Loan Scheme put in place by Parliament and the government of Zimbabwe. We have not heard that Parliament is no longer handling this scheme to the extent that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe could once again become a central player in dishing out and distributing largesse when the government is now agreed that the Central Bank should not engage in quasi-fiscal activities.

It is disturbing to note that the RBZ continues to be abused and to abuse itself by continuing to engage itself in quasi-fiscal operations when such operations should migrate to the government through the Ministry of Finance. Engaging in distribution of capita l products is in itself a quasi-fiscal activity.

The MDC has a strong position against quasi-fiscal operations which have ground our once vibrant economy to a virtual standstill . We do not have any report as a party that any of our MPs has collected a vehicle from the RBZ but if there is any that have done, then they have acted against the party position. Their case will be brought before the National Executive and the National Council and these party organs will take a final decision on the matter.

The MDC be lieves that national institutions must refrain from those activities that have run aground our economy. The RBZ cannot continue to dabble in nefarious activities that have since been condemned by the inclusive government.

The nation wants to start afresh. The MDC is a party of excellence. We believe the inclusive government must open a new chapter of prudence, accountability and honesty. We cannot at this juncture begin to puncture the people’s hopes and aspirations by scoring cheap popularity points on serious national matters. The Central Bank cannot be allowed to corrupt and poison the legislature.

From the MDC Information Department