Zimbabwe

MDC members arrested, Tsvangirai to return Saturday

Article published on the 2008-05-23 Latest update 2008-05-23 13:44 TU

Morgan Tsvangirai talks with Zimbabweans sheltering from anti-immigrant violence in Alexandra township, outside Johannesburg
(Photo: Reuters)

Zimbabwe's opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai announced Thursday that he will return home on Saturday. His spokeperson said that fears for his security have been "mitigated". Zimbabwean police have arrested 12 members of Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), accusing them of terrorising people in the eastern town of Mutare.

Speaking in a South African township after meeting compatriates sheltering from anti-immigrant violence, Tsvangirai said that he will return to Zimbabwe on Saturday after nearly a month and a half out of the country.

He is to face President Robert Mugabe in a run-off election on 27 June.

A spokesperson said that the MDC has made "very important progress with the security situation" this week, despite claims from the party's number two, Tendai Biti, that Tsvangirai and dozens of other party members are on an army hit list.

Friday's state-run Herald newspaper reports that police in Mutare have arrested 12 MDC supporters on public violence charges.

"We are reliably informed that these perpetrators are using marked or unmarked vehicles to terrorise people in the communities," police representative Chief Superintendent Oliver Mandipaka told the paper.

The UN's representative in the country has said that most political violence there has been committed by Mugabe's supporters but that some MDC supporters are also to blame.