A weekend of political repression and violence in Zimbabwe
BBC News Video file here, and Peta Thornycroft’s coverage on her blog here
It has been an eventful weekend in Zimbabwe. Both factions of the MDC tried to hold political meetings and the government has again responded with violence and repression. David Coltart has published a statement on his website describing how the MDC Mutambara faction decided to go ahead with a meeting despite the fact it had been banned by the police. He explains the illegality of the police decisions in the context of Zimbabwe’s own consitution:
An urgent court application was made seeking an interdict preventing the police from banning the meeting. One of the points raised was that section 25 (5) of POSA violates both sections 18 and 21 of the Zimbabwean Constitution. Section 25 (5) gives the Minister of Home Affairs the ultimate power to determine whether political meetings should be allowed to take place or not. It is common cause that the Minister of Home Affairs is also a politician (in the present case a politician who holds a very senior position in the ZANU PF party). To that extent the Minister of Home Affairs is not a neutral arbiter; indeed he is a person with an obvious bias.
This description of events in Bulawayo via SW Radio Africa
However, the party defied the police ban and went ahead with the meeting. But supporters and MDC leaders including Professor Arthur Mutambara, Vice President Gibson Sibanda and Secretary General Professor Welshman Ncube were greeted by a heavy contingent of riot police when they arrived at the venue at Bulawayo City Hall.
It’s reported Professor Mutambara strode past the police and attempted to enter the City Hall but the door had been locked by the police. After failing to get into the venue Mutambara is said to have marched with the activists from the City Hall to their Provincial offices several blocks away.
In Harare, the Tsvangirai faction went ahead with their meeting with the permission of the police. Despite having been granted permission to hold a meeting, every effort was made to stop them, including reports of violence (see the BBC video). The image at the top of this post shows injuries inflicted on one supporter in Harare (circulated by the MDC-UK Coordinator).This via SW Radio Africa:
There are unconfirmed reports that at least 3 people died in the ensuing chaos but information is still being gathered. Over 120 people are reported to have been arrested. The party’s information officer MP Nelson Chamisa released a statement saying there were running battles between unarmed MDC supporters and armed riot police. He said the police cordoned off the venue and indiscriminately fired live ammunition, teargas and water cannons around the Machipisa shopping centre in the High-density suburb of Highfield. MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai, vice president Thokozani Khupe and members of their “Liberation team” were blocked from entering the stadium by police.
The statement also said: “police ordered the shopping center closed, searched people’s homes and indiscriminately assaulted any person seen outside their home. The terror campaign spread to all high density suburbs in Harare where running battles are still being fought between the people and the security forces.” According to the MDC, 2 of disabled supporters, Angeline Masaisai and Clara Muzoda, were seriously assaulted near the venue and 279 more are receiving treatment at Harare hospitals after clashes with the police.
Two things stood out for me. First, the reason given to the Mutambara faction by Minister of Home Affairs, Kembo Mohadi when he refused to grant permission:
“In the course of the meeting he (Mohadi) stated that a decision had been taken to ban all political meetings, save for those directly related to elections, because of what he described as the volatile situation Zimbabwe is in.”
It’s an indication that the government must be aware now that the crumbling economy is creating conditions of desperation where people will be left with fewer and fewer options and maybe more and more will decide to take action. Are Mugabe’s people beginning to feel the first real frissons of pure fear perhaps?
The second thing that jumped out was what an incredible crying shame it is that the MDC is no longer a united political force representing a united country. Two camps fighting separate battles? How does that help us? I hope that both factions will recognise the political opportunity presented to them by the so-called “volatile conditions”. I wish they’d get their act together, put egos to one side and unite for the good of everyone in the country.
May 14th, 2008 17:58
He who shed blood thru the sword, his also shall be shed the same. There is no sin that shall not be punished. Mr Mugabe and supportors think twice on these fews words time is still there for you to make things right with him (GOD) who sees, knows all things and repent.
Regards,
Wingstone.