GOVERNMENT is mulling new laws to crush demonstrations
before they turn violent, President Emmerson Mnangagwa said yesterday.
Addressing the 111th Zanu PF central committee meeting in
Harare yesterday, Mnangagwa said his government was gearing to ensure that
protests which rocked the country in mid-January would never happen again.
“I am assuring the party that government is putting in
place measures to ensure that the illegal, criminal and divisive elements of
January 14 to 16 disguised as protesters will never happen again,” he declared.
“Government will take stern measures against any violence
in this country. We will not tolerate any violence at all. Those who want to
demonstrate must do it peacefully and that is allowed by the Constitution.”
Mnangagwa’s chilling statement comes just a month after he
warned the opposition, labour movements and civil society that his government
would not hesitate to send in soldiers to thwart any future demonstrations
against his government. He told the meeting that his team was efficient in
dealing with dissenting voices.
“Those who become violent and destructive, destroying
property and the lives of our people, government says no and it is no and we
know how to implement no,” Mnangagwa said.
The European Union, Britain and the United States, among
other countries, have condemned Mnangagwa’s regime for deploying the military,
which killed 17 unarmed protesters in cold blood, according to human rights
groups.
The West decried the violence and said Mnangagwa’s efforts
to promote investment and to deepen international partnerships could only be
successful if his administration pursued reforms that included “freedom of
assembly, association and expression”.
The EU ambassador to Zimbabwe, Timo Olkkonen, on Monday
said the bloc would not ignore the human rights violations and warned that
further violations were destroying goodwill and a setback to the country’s
recovery efforts. Early this month, the United States extended sanctions
against Zimbabwe by a year.
A defiant Mnangagwa said his actions were in line with the
law, which provides for the protection of property and rights of Zimbabweans.
“My government remains committed to guaranteeing the safety
of all its citizens and ensuring that any democratic rights are enjoyed within
the strict confines of the law. That’s why there is a government in the
country. That’s why there are laws in the country,” he said.
“Laws must be enforced. Law and order must be enforced so
that our government will not fall short in making sure the country lives in
peace. Individuals should enjoy their democratic rights of association, of
movement and of information.”
Mnangagwa noted that his party members could have unleashed
chaos and massive damage if they had reacted to the violence.
“I commend the party members for showing sober restraint
against immense provocation and attack during that unfortunate incident,” he
said.
“We showed maturity as Zanu PF because had we reacted
violently, because we are the majority, we could have wreaked havoc in the
entire country. But we said no, if other people have chosen to be terrorists
and vandals, we cannot imitate them. We should remain civilised and in peace
and peaceful and ask them to emulate us.” Newsday
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