Zimbabwe opposition members freed

Sekai Holland, the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) secretary for policy and research, and Grace Kwinje, the party’s international relations chief, were among scores of opposition officials and activists who were beaten by security forces sent to block an anti-government rally in Harare, Zimbabwe’s capital, almost two weeks ago.

 

Morgan Tsvangirai, the MDC leader, was also assaulted at the rally.

 

Holland and Kwinje had been under police guard at the private Avenues clinic in Harare after they were arrested and their passports seized at Harare international airport on Saturday, from where they had been due to fly to South Africa.

 

Muchadehama said Kwinje and Holland’s injuries were serious and that they required urgent specialist attention that was available only in South Africa.

 

The court ordered that, while Holland and Kwinje were outside Zimbabwe, their lawyers notify the police of the pair’s whereabouts.

 

Police have also returned the passport of Arthur Mutambara, leader of a breakaway opposition faction also arrested at the airport as he sought to fly out of the country.

 

Nelson Chamisa, an MDC legislator who also suffered serious injuries when he was picked up by suspected state security agents as he attempted to leave the country to attend an EU parlimentary meeting, was still hospitalised on Thursday.