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Zimbabwe: The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party led by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai wants Parliament to launch an investigation into the circumstances surrounding the arrest and conviction of a number of its legislators. The MDC parliamentary chief whip, Innocent Gonese, Wednesday after meetings with the MDC's top brass said a decision was made to move a motion in the House of Assembly over this issue. “We are doing so as the MDC parliamentary caucus,” said Gonese. “We are concerned about the arrests that are taking place and we want Parliament to look into this matter.” The MDC’s call for an investigation was made just a day after Thamsanqa Mahlangu, its National Youth Chairperson who is the Deputy Minister of Youth, was arrested in connection with the alleged theft of a cell-phone. At least seven other MDC parliamentarians, all of them from Manicaland, are facing charges described by the party as trumped-up. Five of the legislators have already been suspended from Parliament. A source is the Central Intelligence Organisation said an order from "the police chief Augustine Chihuri" was made to the effect that the MDC MPs be investigated "in every sense of that word." Chihuri is among the service chiefs that includes the army commander, the prisons chief and the air force commander who declared that they will never salute Tsvangirai but President Robert Mugabe only. The MPs arrested so far include Trevor Saruwaka (Mutasa Central), Lynnette Karenyi (Chimanimani West), Shuwa Mudiwa (Mutare West), Meki Makuyana (Chipinge South) and Mathias Mlambo MP for Chipinge East. The party’s treasurer Senator Roy Bennett has since February not been sworn in Deputy Minister of Agriculture. He also has a court case pending. Bennett is originally from Chipinge. The MDC says the arrests are part of President Robert Mugabe’s strategy to wipe away the party’s slim parliamentary majority. Meanwhile, the party’s secretary general and Finance Minister Tendai Biti received a death threat through a bullet sent to his Highlands home in Harare on Monday. The MDC has also demanded an investigation into this matter. MDC spokesperson, Nelson Chamisa, said his party was taking the matter seriously. “This is something that we are taking very seriously. It’s not just a threat it’s actually some kind of a statement that the life of the Finance Minister in particular and in general that of Members of Parliament is in danger,” said Chamisa. Biti received an envelope in which a 9 millimetre bullet was sealed. Inside was a message instructing him to prepare his will, a message which the MDC views as a death threat. Chamisa said he hoped the police would investigate the case in the best possible professional manner. “We hope the police will step up to the plate and provide the necessary policing services that are required and expected of them,” said Chamisa. by John Mokwetsi / Harare |