PRESIDENT Emmerson Mnangagwa yesterday defended State
security agents’ recent brutal clampdown on protesters, saying they were simply
enforcing COVID-19 lockdown regulations.
Mnangagwa also dismissed allegations of presiding over
gross human rights violations.
Addressing members of the Political Actors’ Dialogue
(Polad) in Harare yesterday, Mnangagwa also insisted that “contrary to social
media claims”, there was no crisis in the country.
“My compatriots, it is in line with enforcing these
measures that some sections of society have cried foul,” Mnangagwa said.
He was referring to the July 31 anti-corruption protests
which were foiled by security forces, attracting the wrath of the international
community.
“In the wake of the arrest of some elements whose actions
sought to not only incite the public to gather against the set rules, but also
bordering on subversive allegations of a crisis has been made mainly in social
media circles.”
Mnangagwa has come under global spotlight after several
countries, churches and rights groups condemned his clampdown on dissenting
voices, arbitrary arrests of opposition leaders and civic society activists as
well as abduction and torture of civilians.
The outcry over rights violations in Zimbabwe last month
prompted South African President Cyril Ramaphosa to deploy envoys on a
fact-finding mission to Harare.
Mnangagwa has, however, repeatedly denied that there is a
crisis in the country and even accused his critics of working in cahoots with
the opposition in a plot to overthrow his government.
The Zanu PF leader yesterday said investigative journalist
Hopewell Chin’ono and opposition leaders Jacob Ngarivhume and Job Sikhala were
arrested for violating COVID-19 regulations as well as inciting despondency in
the country.
“I wish to unequivocally state that there is no crisis in
Zimbabwe as elections were held in July 2018 and a winner was declared in terms
of the country’s Constitution. All contestants were invited to join this
dialogue in the national interest. The door is still open for those outside,”
Mnangagwa said in a jibe directed at his main challenger MDC Alliance leader
Nelson Chamisa, who has steadfastly refused to recognise his victory. Newsday
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