By Own Correspondent| The clampdown on Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU) leaders continues after Zimbabwean authorities on Monday 21 January 2019 arrested the labour body’s Secretary-General Japhet Moyo as soon as he landed in the country from an international trip.

Moyo is being accused of plotting to overthrow President Emmerson Mnangagwa’s administration following anti-government protests staged in the
country last week.

The protests, which were staged in most major cities and towns over the mismanagement of the economy were triggered by the announcement by Mnangagwa of the increase of petrol prices by over 140 percent

Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) officers arrested Moyo at Robert Mugabe
International Airport and advised him that
they would be charging him with subverting a constitutionally elected
government.

Moyo is represented by Tinashe Mundawarara and Bryant Elliot of
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).

ZRP officers also took Rusty Markham, an opposition MDC legislator for Harare North constituency after accusing him of
committing public violence following protests held in his constituency
on Tuesday 15 January 2019.

ZRP officers took Markham, who is represented by Obey Shava of ZLHR to
Robert Mugabe International Airport, where they sought to verify his
argument that he was not in the country when the anti-government
demonstrations took place.

The arrest of Moyo and Markham comes after ZRP officers arrested nine
residents of Mabvuku high-density suburb over the weekend and detained
them at Harare Central Police Station before they appeared at Harare Magistrates Court on Monday 21 January 2019, charged with committing public violence.

The Mabvuku high-density suburb residents are being represented by
Moses Nkomo of ZLHR.