HARARE – Police say they are investigating the discovery of 210 old helmets “resembling those used by the Zimbabwe Republic Police and 41 others used by Harare Municipal Police” in the basement of a building in central Harare.
State media on Monday sought to link the discovery to the MDC, with the Herald newspaper reporting that the basement was “near Harvest House”, the MDC headquarters.
The MDC rejected the link.
Police discovered the helmets in the basement of Robinson House at the corner of Kwame Nkrumah Avenue and Angwa Street.
MDC secretary general Charlton Hwende on Monday said police had sealed off their headquarters.
“According to the police, anyone breaking the law in the CBD is MDC? Our head office is Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House at the corner of Nelson Mandela and Angwa Street. We have no office or basement at Robinson House. Our offices were attacked early this year by known Zanu PF thugs and to date no one was arrested,” Hwende said on Twitter.
Police spokesman Paul Nyathi said: “A group of rowdy elements attacked a police officer who was about to meet his relative at Robinson House. These elements have declared the area a no-go area for police.
“Some officers who were nearby came to intervene but were also attacked, forcing them to call for back-up from Harare Central Police Station. When the hooligans saw that they were now being overpowered, they ran into the basement with the officers in pursuit.
“It was during the chase that they came across the helmets stashed in one of the rooms in the basement.”
Twelve people were arrested over the clashes with police officers, Nyathi said, adding that piles of bricks and stones were also found in the basement.
The 12 have been named as Helton Tamangani, 29, Evans Chinganga, 39, Tichaona Maziya, 22, Petros Kaesa, 44, Adoration Tafadzwa Madziwa, 23, Lovemore Chitengo, 42, Terrence Nyadundu, 24, Robson Mutseta, 31, Hillary Nyawasha, 29, Wambo Denford, 41, Blessing Chirodza, 41, and David Tawanda Tedere, 35.
The MDC fears the helmets could be a precursor to a police operation to target its supporters.
“Our head office has been sealed by riot police. Our staff are unable to access it to do their work. The MDC as a party that is represented in parliament must be allowed to operate without state interference. This is the reason why the country is isolated internationally,” Hwende said in another tweet.
