Political violence escalates in urban areas
Five MDC activists were badly injured after they were assaulted by Zanu PF thugs in Mbare at Carter house. The five: Patrick Mufuka (34), Charles Magurira (38), Edson Muneka (31), Godfrey Mutowo (38) and Francis Kadigo had to seek medical attention at a Harare hospital. According to the five, Zanu PF youths, abusing young boys of between 14 and 17 years, moved around the Mbare fresh fruit produce market uprooting known MDC activist and leading them to Carter House where they were assaulted. The MDC has condemned these actions as barbaric and unproductive to an ailing nation which sought real change.
MDC’s Theresa Makone, the Home Affairs Minister, demanded an urgent meeting with her colleague, Kembo Mohadi, Police Commissioner – General Augustine Chihuri and other senior police chiefs on the rising wave of lawlessness in country. “I am very concerned about the spate of selective arrests, violence and a climate of intolerance that is threatening to throw us back to where we were before the MDC stabilized the country through our entry into government,” she said. She added that “there must be some dark forces lurking in the woods, clamoring for a return to a failed state status – a situation where there is no accountability and decency within the usually law-abiding communities of our beloved country. They must be flushed out as a matter of urgency. The people have had enough of violence and intimidation and want to leave in peace.” Armed riot police arrested hundreds of internally displaced MDC members who had sought refuge at a church in Glen Norah. The displaced families, mainly from Mbare, had their homes and property looted by ZANU PF youths. MDC members who reported the disturbances at Mbare Police Station were arrested. Some of those arrested are women and children as young as two weeks.
Foreign-owned businesses attacked in Harare
Hundreds of supporters of President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF party demonstrated against foreign owned businesses in Harare this week. They waved placards denouncing foreigners for “controlling and destroying” the economy. The unrest was sparked by a car parking contract which was awarded to a South African.
Property worth thousands of dollars was destroyed. The police have reported that only eight people alleged to have looted goods from the businesses were arrested. Nigerians, Indians, Tanzanians and Chinese were among those who lost property, including mobile phones, electrical goods and clothing.Economist Eric Bloch said the continuing rise of violence in the streets of the capital is discouraging foreign investors. “There is no way that Zimbabwe can have meaningful foreign direct investment when we have such violent activities,” he said.
Zanu PF must stop abusing hapless youths
MDC Information & Publicity Department issued this statement in response to a wave of ZANU PF’s orchestrated violence
“The MDC strongly condemns Zanu PF’s barbaric behaviour which reached a climax in Harare as the party’s youths tried to invade and loot businesses in Harare. Nowhere has an economy been driven through lawlessness and a casual destruction of the little that exists as a way of mass empowerment. The MDC was surprised to learn that the police earlier sanctioned such demonstration and deliberately did nothing to protect innocent business people from Zanu PF’s wanton attacks and a subsequent looting spree that followed the disturbances. In the recent past, we have noticed a disconcerting practice within certain political sections of our community which seek to promote lawlessness under the guise of Zanu PF’s indigenization dream. The recent invasions at Lake Chivero are in case in point. The MDC believes that it is criminal to abuse young people and turn them into criminals for political gains. Zimbabwe’s youths must be inspired to nurture values of tolerance as they represent the future. For that reason, the MDC maintains its position against brainwashing the youths into murderers and killing machines in pursuit of a tired Zanu PF political dream. In a new Zimbabwe, our youths shall claim their place as the vanguard of society and creators of the nation’s wealth through a glut of opportunities and jobs. The country is fast moving towards the end of an uncertain period of almost two generations of Zimbabweans who have suffered the most from Zanu PF tyranny and a crisis of governance. That period has seen the majority’s hopes and aspirations dashed and pushed millions into the Diaspora for food, economic freedom and political security. As a force of darkness, Zanu Pf loathes a society where accountability, the rule of law and a Constitutional order anchor the nation’s desire for peace, security and good governance. In all the cases in which they abuse the youths, the Zanu PF elite quickly move in to feather its nests, forcing them back into perpetual penury. No holistic reforms can be meaningful when they are implemented in a haphazard approach. Politics, economics and public security must be integrated for total transformation to be felt by all. Emotional, politically induced and insincere empowerment programmes that fail to extend a people’s entrance to sustainable development will never address the critical needs of the youths. What is needed is a holistic approach to economic recovery so that real jobs are created in agriculture; in mining; in tourism; in manufacturing and in commerce and industry.”
Zanu PF Takes Politics To Schools
An agonized sense of fear swept across the education fraternity this week as ZANU PF’s youths took their terror into schools. Headmasters were ordered to set aside at least two days a week for lessons about the liberation struggle. A headmaster, whose identity is withheld, said "we have been asked to teach for three days and the other two days we must teach children about Zanu PF and the liberation war". Education, Art, Sports and culture Minister David Coltart has condemned Zanu PF’s invasion of schools. “I have said consistently that schools should not be political battle grounds, in any form or fashion that is why I put bans on any political party using schools for political rallies," he said. The rowdy youths are also demanding US$1.00 from headmasters, teachers and pupils for Robert Mugabe’s 87th birthday. Vendors at Mbare and Mupedzanhamo were also ordered to contribute US$1.00 each for the President’s birthday bash. No diamonds money for civil servants: Biti The Finance Minister and MDC-T Secretary General, Tendai Biti, has announced that the treasury has not received any money from diamond sales, despite President Mugabe’s promise to give civil servants a US$250 million windfall. Mr. Biti said “diamonds are being sold but there is no accountability. We are not getting anything.” Mines and Mining Development Minister Obert Mpofu has attributed Biti’s statements to a complete bag of lies and added that he has ”…a written letter from Biti saying he had received the money”. However, Mpofu refused to show the supposed letter to the journalist. Civil servants earn an average of US$200.00 a month but statistics show that a family of five needs at least US$502.00 a month to survive in Zimbabwe. | ||
Play ZANU PF songs, minibuses and Taxis ordered | ||
It emerged this week that taxi drivers and commuter omnibus crews were ordered by ‘rank marshals’ who manage traffic at bus terminals to play ZANU PF songs in their vehicles and to always display the Zimbabwe flag, if they want to continue picking up passengers at the bus terminals. This is ZANU PF’s latest strategy to reach MDC’s youthful supporters. The new ZANU PF album produced by Sani Makalima and music by the Born Free Crew were among the many songs recommended for continuous airplay. |
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