Police released Zimbabwean opposition leader Morgan Tsvangirai on Wednesday after more than nine hours in detention amid ominous signs that the government is tightening its grip on the country before this month’s presidential runoff.
Tsvangirai spokesman George Sibotshiwe said Tsvangirai was released after being charged for a public order offense “on a spurious charge of attracting a large number of people,” his party, the Movement for Democratic Change, said in a statement.
He had to sign an official police caution before he was released along with a group of about 14 party officials from a police station in Lupane, north of the city of Bulawayo. One of his security vehicles was seized.
“This is yet another shameless and desperate act of this illegitimate regime to try and subvert the will of the people of Zimbabwe,” the party said.
Tsvangirai, who returned to Zimbabwe 12 days ago despite a possible threat to his life, faces off against Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe in a presidential runoff on June 27.
Police stopped the group at a roadblock at about 1:30pm while campaigning in towns north of Bulawayo, the party said. The group included vice president Thokozane Kupe and chairman Lovemore Moyo.
Police comment was not immediately available.
The opposition said that while the group has been held they have received news of the deaths of seven party activists, bringing to 65 the number of supporters killed since March.
“Mugabe is determined to turn the whole country into a war zone in order to subvert the will of the people and steal the election by any means possible,” he said in Bulawayo earlier on Wednesday.
Amnesty International condemned Tsvangirai’s detention and said it was “part of a sudden, sharp and dangerous crackdown.”
The organization also raised concerns about “severely tightening restrictions” placed by the government on international aid agencies distributing food and other assistance to Zimbabweans.
CARE International has been ordered to halt operations pending an investigation of allegations that it was campaigning for the opposition.
CARE denies that was the case.
At least two of Tsvangirai’s rallies since his return have been banned on security grounds by police, who said they could not guarantee his safety.
Although police granted permission for the rallies, Mugabe ordered the army to camp on the grounds of the venues, the opposition said in a statement.
Tsvangirai has survived at least three assassination attempts. In 1997, unidentified assailants tried to throw him from a 10th floor window. Last year, he was hospitalized after a brutal assault by police at a prayer rally.
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