OPPOSITION MDC Alliance vice-president Tendai Biti yesterday
described President Emmerson Mnangagwa's government as a "terrorist
organisation" and a "bloodthirsty" regime planning to spill the
blood of innocent citizens exercising their democratic right to protest.
Biti told journalists in Harare yesterday ahead of the July
31 protests that Zanu-PF was a terrorist organisation responsible for the
abduction and murder of thousands of opposition supporters.
"We support the rights of citizens who have organised
July 31, 2020. We support their constitutional right to embark on a peaceful,
constitutional protest against the regime codified in section 59 of the
Constitution of Zimbabwe," he said.
"We object to Zanu-PF's attempt to convert the 31st of
July into another 1st August 2018. We don't want bloodshed. We want the
Constitution to be adhered to."
The former Finance minister blasted Zanu-PF acting
spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa's remarks that described the MDC Alliance, the
Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions and the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition as
terrorist organisations which were working with Western diplomats to effect
regime change in Zimbabwe.
"We reject the fascist response by the regime, in
particular the remarks made by the deranged Patrick Chinamasa," Biti said.
"A responsible government would have asked for
dialogue with the organisers of the events of July 31, 2020, but this regime is
unique, this regime is violent, this regime is impervious to logic and
objectivity and we have seen a huge clampdown on people including Hopewell
Chin'ono, Jacob Ngarivhume and others."
He said the MDC Alliance was under siege and that a number
of their officials were in hiding, being hounded by the regime.
"We are seriously concerned with the human rights
situation in the country," he said.
"We are concerned by the continued abductions of our
colleagues. As we are speaking this afternoon, we are receiving reports of
massive abductions that are taking place throughout the country.
"We have colleagues who have been abducted in
Chiredzi, in Bulawayo and the length and breadth of the country."
Biti added: "We are concerned about the attacks on the
general membership of our movement and the people. We are concerned in
particular with concerted effort to liquidate the MDC Alliance.
"We take great exception to the description of our
party as a terrorist organisation by an individual, a ramshackle individual
unqualified to make that statement in the form of Patrick Chinamasa."
Biti said the MDC Alliance was a responsible opposition
party that had no intention of "going on hilltops as rebels".
"If anything, it is Zanu-PF itself which is a
terrorist organisation that abducts people and if you have any doubt about
that, talk to Mrs (Sheffra) Dzamara (journalist Itai Dzamara's wife).
"Right now, she doesn't know where her husband is.
Talk to Joanah Mamombe, talk to Cecilia Chimbiri, talk to Netsai Marova, they
will provide you with evidence of the brutal and terrorist nature of
Zanu-PF."
He accused Zanu-PF of killing the late former army
commander Solomon Mujuru, who died in an inferno at his Ruzambo Farm in
Beatrice in 2011.
"Talk to other members of our party who are now being
hounded as if they are common criminals.
"Where is Job Sikhala right now? Where is Gift
Ostallos right now? Where is Obey Sithole right now? Where is Makomborero
Haruzivishe right now? They are all in hiding and are being hounded by a
predatory thuggocractic State led and being presided over by one Emmerson
Mnangagwa," he charged.
"This country needs external referees to resolve the
crisis of illegitimacy, structural reforms that are both political,
socio-economic to restore the social contract, to restore trust and confidence.
"This country needs a transitional mechanism, a national
transitional authority to oversee the process until the country is ready for
the next election." Newsday
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