FORMER Co-Minister of State for National Healing,
Reconciliation and Integration during the inclusive Government and founding
member of the MDC, Mrs Sekai Holland, has said some reports of abduction of
opposition and civil society members by alleged State security agents were
false.
Mrs Holland, who is National Peace Trust (NPT) board of
trustees chairperson, said it was critical for diplomats in the country to
first verify abduction claims before circulating messages on social media.
“The National Peace Trust notes with concern statements
coming from some quarters of the diplomatic community, civil society and
political players on the situation in Zimbabwe,” said Mrs Holland in a
statement yesterday.
“Some of these statements border on falsehoods,
misinformation and outright malice and have the potential to further derail
current fragile multiple peace building initiatives in Zimbabwe, a new and
healthy feature which the NPT treasure, after the 52 years of Zimbabweans fear
of one another and the painful silence our society has endured.
“Zimbabweans need to take advantage of the new spirit
ushered in by the 2nd Republic to call for peace and to open new spaces for
conversations.”
Yesterday, the US Embassy in Harare posted on twitter that
it remains “concerned about more abductions, violence & intimidation in
Zimbabwe . . .”
In response to the tweet, irate citizens slammed the US
Embassy for fomenting chaos in the country.
Said Nicole Hondo; “We are equally concerned about the . .
. sponsorship of terrorism and fake abductions in Zimbabwe, all aimed at regime
change.”
Another tweeter user, Simbarashe Shereni told the US not to
meddle in local politics; “Don’t meddle in our politics. You don’t tell us what
to do. You stage-manage abductions to try and justify your stance against our
beautiful nation.
“We are not that daft. Sadly, you have puppets here. But
they will be defeated at all costs.”
US Ambassador to Zimbabwe Mr Brian Nichols and some
officials reportedly visited MDC-Alliance deputy chairperson Mr Job Sikhala’s
Chitungwiza home on the eve of a violent demonstration that had been planned
for August 16.
Last week, Ambassador Nichols reportedly flew to Washington
after dodging reprimand by Government for his role in the MDC-Alliance’s
demonstrations.
Mrs Holland said the NPT – which mainstreams peace with
justice, reconciliation and healing in inclusive grassroots sustainable
development programmes focusing on children, women, youths, the marginalised
and vulnerable – implored parties to refrain from circulating unverified
information.
She said while the NPT had not investigated all cases of
abduction, the incidents involving the abduction of two opposition activists in
Mufakose had been “reported out of context”.
“The same has been with the situation involving the youth
leader of a political party at the end of the final discussion programme hosted
by the Zimbabwe Council of Churches and broadcast jointly by the Zimpapers
Television Network and the Voice of America on July 31, 2019,” said Mrs
Holland. “These two events have drawn unjustified widespread condemnation.
Clearly, organisations involved in communicating these incidents have not
bothered to investigate.”
Mrs Holland called on political parties to heed President
Mnangagwa’s repeated calls for peace and unity.
Women have become targets for attacks, especially those
opposed to the MDC-Alliance’s agenda.
Mrs Holland called on the diplomatic community to support
the process of establishing the truth by recognising the “good spirit
prevailing in the country and condemning all forms of violence in an impartial
manner”.
She called on political parties to support the dialogue
process which was initiated by President Mnangagwa, to find a lasting solution
to the challenges confronting the country. Herald
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