HARARE - Eddy Ndirayire, MDC Mashonaland West deputy chairperson has been arrested for allegedly provoking Zanu PF youths when he addressed a rally at Nyamakate Business Centre in Hurungwe North Constituency on September 2.

Ndirayire was arrested together with another MDC youth assembly member Luxmore Zintambila. The duo is currently detained at Chinhoyi Police Station’s law and order section.

Officer commanding Mashonaland West province assistant commissioner Murwira confirmed the arrests.

The party’s provincial organising secretary for the province Wilson Makanyaire told the Daily News that the two were summoned to the provincial law and order section in Chinhoyi yesterday where they were charged for provoking Zanu PF youths.

He said the charges were trumped-up. He accused Zanu PF of being desperately jealous after the successful staging of the rally despite attempts by the police to ban it.

“The illegal arrests are a sign of desperation on the part of both the police and Zanu PF,” Makanyaire said.

“They are jealous as they held a poorly- attended rally on the same day just 500m away from us which was addressed by Jabulani Sibanda to intimidate our members but it did not work. They were shocked by the attendance at our rally as our members braved the intimidation that characterised our preparations. That is why they are now resorting to creating unfounded allegations such as these.”