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has been arrested on allegations of undermining the authority of the President.
Minister Timba was quoted in the South African Sunday Times newspaper’s Zimbabwe edition recently saying President Mugabe and his Zanu-PF ministers were liars after they gave their version of events about the just-ended Sadc summit in Sandton, South Africa.
Police spokesperson Superintendent Andrew Phiri could neither confirm nor deny Minister Timba’s arrest yesterday, but his party MDC-T and his lawyer Mr Selby Hwacha of Dube, Manikai and Hwacha law firm confirmed the arrest last night.
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“Police arrested him at 4:30pm at his offices. Police have denied us access to him. Everybody senior we spoke to denied ever arresting (Minister) Timba. Police took him and drove him to Harare Central Police Station where he is locked up,” said Mr Hwacha.
Mr Timba claimed he also attended the Extraordinary Sadc Summit on Zimbabwe on the sidelines of the Comesa,-EAC-Sadc tripartite summit of Heads of State and Government that also discussed Madagas-car.
It is after this meeting that the minister claimed President Mugabe was a liar.
MDC-T also confirmed Minister Timba’s arrest.
The party said Minister Timba was being held at the CID Law and Order Section at Harare Central Police Station.
“The MDC wishes to advise that its secretary for international relations and Minister of State in the Prime Minister’s office, Hon Timba was today (yesterday) arrested by police on allegations of undermining the authority of the President.
“Currently, Hon Timba is being held by the Criminal Investigations Department (CID) Law and Order Section at Harare Central Police Station.
“The MDC finds it strange that the Minister can be arrested on the basis of newspaper reports. Equally, we find it a little suspicious to choose Friday as the day to effect arrest.
“The MDC is watching the developments closely and demands that the Minister is treated with the respect he deserves in accordance with the laws of the country,” read the statement.
MDC-T spokesperson, Mr Douglas Mwonzora, last night said Minister Timba had been arrested at his Charter House offices late in the afternoon.
“We are not sure whether they are going to detain him for the night,” he said.
Peter Tanyanyiwa
Online Reporter