Human rights campaigner still detained

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HARARE – Zimbabwe police were by late Thursday still holding prominent human rights campaigner Lovemore Madhuku and two others who they arrested earlier this week for demanding a new and democratic constitution for the country.

Harare lawyer Alec Muchadehama, who is representing the jailed activists, said he will apply to the High Court if the police fail to release them by end of day today.

“We might have no option but to resort to the High Court,” said Muchadehama.

Police spokesman Wayne Bvunzijena was not immediately available to shed light on when the law enforcement agency planned to release the activists or take them to court.

Madhuku, who is chairman of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) that campaigns for a new constitution, was part of a group of about 150 members of the civic alliance who were marching in Harare demanding a new constitution when armed police pounced on them.

The police severely assaulted the demonstrators who they also arrested. They later released the rest of the demonstrators except Madhuku and two other activists whom the police allege stoned one of their vehicles. -ZimOnline"