THE MDC Alliance and its allies in non-governmental
organisations and civil society sectors are behind the violence that broke out
is some parts of the country yesterday, leading to a loss of life and
destruction of property, including burning of buses and police vehicles,
Government has said.
In a statement last night, Minister of State for National
Security Owen Ncube said the State had activated all its security organs.
By last night over 200 unruly elements had been arrested in
connection with the violence, which by all looks was planned and co-ordinated
through social media.
“The prevailing security situation in the country is a
culmination of a well orchestrated series of events by the MDC Alliance working
in cahoots with NGOs, civic society, youth organisations, pressure groups and
individuals,” said Minister Ncube.
“Regrettably, this has resulted in the loss of life and
property, including injury to police officers and members of the public. We
express our deepest condolences to the bereaving families. Full investigations
are underway.”
Minister Ncube said Government was aware of meetings
organised by the Crisis Coalition in Zimbabwe from December 3 to 7 last year to
foment disturbances in the country.
“These meetings were coordinated by Crisis Coalition and
some identified foreign agents,” he said.
“There were other meetings such as the one held on 11th
January 2019 in Belvedere, whose agenda was to plan for the disturbance of
peace and render the country ungovernable,” he said.
“Pursuant to the nefarious agenda, the MDC Alliance
activated its notorious terror groups which include the so-called Democratic
Resistance Committees and the para-military Vanguard.”
Minister Ncube said yesterday’s events were instructive in
two ways.
“They come against the background where His Excellency the
President Cde Mnangagwa is out of the country and they are intended to
undermine (kudira jecha) the ongoing re-engagement efforts of the President to
market Zimbabwe at high level fora such as the World Economic Forum in Davos,
Switzerland,” he said.
“The events of the past 24 hours have been characterised by
a well-coordinated criminal behaviour, destructive and violent pattern which
included the barricading of roads, harassment of innocent members of the
public, burning of cars, disruption of children’s lessons in schools, forced
closure of business entities, attempts to overrun police posts, destruction of
property, unlawful possession and discharging of firearms in public, attacking
tollgates and robbing them of cash as well as looting of shops,” said Minister
Ncube.
“In short, this was terrorism and total breakdown of rule
of law and order which had nothing to do with the constitutional right of
citizens to demonstrate peacefully as enshrined in Section 59 of the
Constitution of Zimbabwe.”
Minister Ncube said Government had activated all security
organs to restore law and order and protect life and property.
“Government is appealing to members of the public to
cooperate with the security institutions,” he said.
“Government is aware of the ring leaders, their modus
operandi and their funders,” he said.
“Our security arms are now firmly on the ground tracking
the criminals. They will be apprehended to face the full wrath of the law. In
the meantime, security forces have arrested more than 200 individuals who were
involved in these disturbances.
“Government urges members of the public to go about their
normal day to day activities without fear as their security is guaranteed.”
Minister Ncube expressed deep condolences to bereaving
families and said investigations were underway. Herald
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