Some Zimbabweans have set up an online petition aimed at
blocking Zimbabwean president Emmerson Mnangagwa from attending the forthcoming
World Economic Forum in Davos, Switzerland, questioning his move to rub
shoulders with world leaders while local people are being brutalised by state
security agents following nationwide protests this week over the high cost of
living.
The petition, created Wednesday on change.org and seeking
5,000 signatures, has been signed by 3,612 people amid concerns by human rights
organisations, opposition parties, various nations, the European Union, United
Nations and other entities about the deteriorating political and economic
situation in Zimbabwe.
This comes at a time when the Zimbabwe Association of
Doctors for Human Rights says it has attended to 172 victims of violence of
which 68 were of people with gunshot wounds. It says other cases were a result
of assaults with sharp objects, booted feet, baton sticks, sjamboks and tarmac
abrasions. Indications are that some patients had dog bites as police allegedly
unleashed dogs on protesters in some cities. Zimbabwean authorities say at
least 200 people were arrested during the protests.
Police say only 3 people were killed while some
non-governmental organisations estimate that at least 12 people were gunned
down by state security agents. The Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum claims that
it has recorded 844 cases of human rights violations.
Several organisations and the opposition Movement for
Democratic Change led by Nelson Chamisa, have backed the online petition noting
that Mnangagwa, who is currently visiting several European nations, should go
back home instead of attending the World Economic Forum Annual Meeting to be
held between 22 and 25 January, 2019.
Thabitha Khumalo, chairperson of the MDC, said organizers
of the Davos meeting should seriously consider blocking Mnangagwa from
attending the World Economic Forum.
“A lot of people globally have signed that petition
requesting that E.D Mnangagwa must be denied permission to participate in the
Davos meeting because what we are saying is that Zimbabwe is burning
economically, socially, culturally, you name it. We are saying he must come
back home and correct the ills that have engulfed our country.”
Reacting to Khumalo’s remarks and the online petition, Zanu
PF Central Committee member, Joseph Tshuma, said while there are people who are
upset about what is happening in Zimbabwe, Mnangagwa should be given a chance
to meet with economic giants in order to find ways of getting the much-needed
foreign direct investment.
“To be honest with you when the president left the country
all these things had not started to happen … I will tell you my brother without
mincing my words. Zimbabweans have shot themselves on their feet because, look,
with all these things happening, these are the kind of recipes that brew sort
of anger, desperation and fear from any investors.
“It will be very
difficult to invest in a country which can easily burn down property and loot
things with impunity. And so, we are putting ourselves in a corner. We are
crying that the economy is going down, others are trying to resuscitate it and
then we throw the biggest spanner in the works. I’m telling you we have gone 10
steps backwards.” voa
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