Morgan Tsvangirai, Zimbabwe’s long-standing Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) leader has been released out of jail by police after he was arrested and detained by Zimbabwean police for eight hours.

“He was released without charge,” said an official with the MDC.

He added that police had also confiscated the opposition leader’s armoured vehicle.

The MDC leader, who faces long-standing rival and President Robert Mugabe in the June 27 presidential election run-off, accuses Mugabe and his Zanu PF party of running down Zimbabwe’s economy.

"He has been taken into a charge office in Lupane," chief spokesperson for the opposition Movement for Democratic Change Nelson said.

"The police just said our bosses want to see you," he added.

Tsvangirai, who has been arrested on numerous occasions, has been charged twice with treason and has also suffered serious injuries while in police custody.

Official results from the electoral commission gave Tsvangirai 47.9 percent of the vote against Mugabe's 43.2 percent.

The MDC has faced severe restrictions in its campaigning efforts and Tsvangirai has been largely prevented from addressing party rallies.

Four MDC lawmakers have been arrested in the lead-up to the vote later this month, when Mugabe will be seeking to extend his 28 years at the helm of the southern African nation.

A leader of a breakaway MDC faction, Arthur Mutambara, was arrested on Sunday over an opinion piece which was heavily critical of 84-year-old Mugabe's rule of the former British colony. He has since been bailed.

Violence has also mounted ahead of the run-off, and the MDC says 58 of its supporters have been killed by pro-Mugabe militias in recent weeks.

---

Share This Story On:

Average user rating