POLICE yesterday arrested opposition Transform Zimbabwe leader Jacob Ngarivhume and journalist Hopewell Chin’ono, accusing them of inciting violence in what observers said was a crackdown on critics of President Emmerson Mnangagwa ahead of planned protests on July 31. BY BLESSED MHLANGA/ANDREW KUNAMBURA Both Ngarivhume and Chin’ono were picked up in the morning and face charges of “incitement to participate in public violence”, police confirmed. Police officers broke into Chin’ono’s Chisipite house in Harare, threatened his workers and dragged him out, a video of the arrest which went viral on social media showed. Chin’ono has gained a following by exposing graft in Mnangagwa’s administration. His lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa, in a video shot at the house, said: “We have just arrived at Hopewell’s house after receiving an SOS that his home has been surrounded by about eight State security agents and they broke the glass at his door, gained entry and he has been abducted.” In a statement, national police spokesperson Assistant Commissioner Paul Nyathi confirmed the arrests. “The Zimbabwe Republic Police confirms that Jacob Ngarivhume of Transform Ziimbabwe and Hopewell Chin’ono have been arrested in connection with allegations of contravening section 187(1)(a) as read with section 37(1)(a)(i) of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act, Chapter 9:23, ‘incitement to participate in public violence’,” the statement read. “The duo will appear in court soon and are currently in police custody.” Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR), who dispatched lawyers to aid Chin’ono and Ngarivhume, also confirmed the arrests. “We can confirm that Ngarivhume has been arrested and is being held at the law and order section. At the moment, they are still profiling him together with Chin’ono, but charges are yet to be preferred against them. The lawyers, who are with them, are saying the police are talking about inciting the public against the government as the possible charge,” ZLHR said. The arrests, which come amid reports that police were also after MDC Alliance deputy chairperson Job Sikhala and #Tajamuka/Sesijikile leader Promise Mkhwananzi, triggered an outcry from non-governmental organisations and the United States embassy, who condemned the arrests. In a statement, Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum castigated the State’s response and arrest of graft fighters ahead of the July 31 demonstrations. “The forum notes with deep concern the arbitrary arrest of journalist Hopewell Chin’ono from his home in Harare … His arrest was documented on video and confirmed by lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa who has been to his house. Police officers, with one holding a weapon, can be seen in the video. His house has been broken into and he has been taken to Harare Central Police Station,” NGO Forum said. The rights body also noted the attempt to silence Ngarivhume, who is fronting the demonstration against Mnangagwa’s government, which he has accused of being corrupt and failing to fight the scourge of corruption that has robbed the nation of billio