Police detained a mayor from Zimbabwean Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s party on Saturday following political violence in the east of the country earlier this week, a party spokesman said.
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) spokesman Pishayi Muchauraya said Admire Mukorera, the deputy mayor for the city of Mutare, was taken from his home early on Saturday by detectives from the police law and order section.
“They said his vehicle was used during political disturbances in Buhera, but they did not give details,” Muchauraya said. “He is detained at Mutare central police station, but they plan to take him to Buhera. When we went to see him he had not been charged.”
In a reference to Zimbabwean President Robert Mugabe’s party, he said: “What surprises us is that we have supporters who had houses burnt by ZANU-PF supporters this week and we made reports to the police with names of suspects, but nothing has been done.”
Meanwhile, Mugabe said on Saturday the unity government he formed with the opposition MDC would bring stability and warned against resurgent political violence.
Mugabe was addressing mourners at the burial of a former commander of Zimbabwe’s military forces in Harare and was joined by Tsvangirai in another sign of thawing relations between the two long-time foes.
Tsvangirai and the MDC have previously boycotted such occasions, saying Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party had hijacked national events for partisan purposes.
The gesture came after Mugabe last week joined mourning for Tsvangirai’s wife, who was killed in a car crash.
“We now have an inclusive government and I want to thank the honorable prime minister and his deputy prime minister who are here. That is as it should be,” Mugabe said. “We were fighting among ourselves, brother versus brother ... but we’ve realized our folly. Let us walk the same road. We formed this inclusive government to bring stability, peace and harmony.”
Mugabe also spoke out against political violence, which the MDC has previously blamed on Mugabe’s ZANU-PF.
“Violence must stop. We have heard reports of renewed violence, that must stop. Yes, we belong to different parties, but let’s not fight. Those who persist with acts of violence are the enemies of Zimbabwe,” Mugabe said.
Mugabe, who never misses an opportunity to attack his Western critics, said his government’s dispute with former colonial power Britain had not ended, but called for “friendship and partnership.”
“Our fight with the British is not yet over. Not a week passes without the British parliament discussing Zimbabwe. They forget that we will never be a colony again,” he said. “What we want is partnership, we don’t want to be subjugated, we don’t want masters. Those who want to be our friends and partners are welcome.”
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