Former Budiriro MP Costa Machingauta was allegedly abducted by armed men, who raided his Harare home on Thursday night, and was later found in police holding cells after being charged with engaging in public violence.
The Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) said Machingauta revealed that his children were harassed by the men.
“Lawyers have finally located Costa Machingauta, at the holding cells where he was held incommunicado since his seizure 'abduction style' last night,” the lawyers said in a post on X (formerly Twitter).
“He is now being charged with public violence. He has complained that his minor children were assaulted when they were 'taking him'."
Meanwhile, ZLHR said 12 people from Gokwe, who allegedly joined a protest against President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s assumption of the rotating Sadc chairperson’s role, have been arrested.
“In Gokwe, 12 people have been arrested for allegedly participating in an anti-government demonstration, where they allegedly expressed their sentiments against President Mnangagwa and him assuming the position of SADC Chairperson at the regional bloc's meeting in Harare,” ZLHR posted on X (formerly Twitter).
Zimbabwe will host the Sadc summit on Saturday where the country will take over as chairperson of the regional body from Angola for one year.
Mnangagwa’s government launched a vicious crackdown against the opposition and civil society ahead of the summit, resulting in the arrests of over 100 people.
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The crackdown has been widely condemned, including by United Nations experts.
