THE main opposition MDC will today hold an urgent caucus
meeting to discuss the arrests of several of their legislators over the weekend
and persecution of several others who have now gone into hiding after being
accused of orchestrating last week’s successful countrywide stayaway.
This came as the United Nations called for a peaceful
resolution to the current challenges in the country.
“The United Nations strongly believes that the current
challenges in the country can only be resolved through peaceful and
consultative processes,” the UN said in a statement last night.
“In line with Zimbabwe’s commitment to the 2030 Agenda for
Sustainable Development, upholding rule of law and ensuring the protection of
human rights of all Zimbabweans at all times is critical for accelerated
economic recovery, inclusive growth and sustainable development.”
Labour and civil rights organisations called for the
stayaway when President Emmerson Mnangagwa raised fuel prices by nearly 150%
nearly two weeks ago, which turned violent when government reacted by
unleashing the armed soldiers and police on civilians throughout the country.
The State also blocked the Internet to prevent the brutal
crackdown being broadcast to the world, in what analysts say is evidence that
the country is slipping back into authoritarian rule.
Several opposition MPs and labour officials have been
arrested, while others have gone into hiding to escape the clampdown, with
lawyers and human rights groups saying at least 12 people were killed and 78
others treated for bullet wounds during the protests.
MDC chief whip in the National Assembly, Prosper Mutseyami,
yesterday told NewsDay that the Morgan Richard Tsvangirai House meeting today
would tackle issues to do with victimisation of their members, whom he said
were being brutalised, tortured and refused treatment.
“Tomorrow [today], we will hold a party caucus for MDC
Alliance MPs at Harvest House in Harare, with the view of discussing their
victimisation because it is not fair,” Mutseyami said.
“The agenda is to get details from the MPs of what they
have gone through and the trauma that they have experienced, as well as what
their fellow constituents have also gone through because our members were not
involved in organising the demonstrations.”
Mutseyami said the meeting would discuss several issues
affecting the country, and thereafter, a statement would be issued pertaining
to what the MDC MPs would have discussed as the way forward.
He said the MPs that have been arrested so far included
Amos Chibaya (Mkoba), Settlement Chikwinya (Mbizo), Winnie Kankuni
(Sunningdale), Lloyd Mukapiko (Redcliff), Rusty Markham (Harare North) and
Livingston Chimina (Chiwundura).
The MDC chief whip said several legislators, including
leader of the opposition in the National Assembly Tabitha Khumalo, Godfrey
Sithole (Chitungwiza North), Job Sikhala (Zengeza West), Maxwell Mavhunga
(Chitungwiza South), Chalton Hwende (Kuwadzana East), Happymore Chidziva
(Highfield West), Joana Mamombe (Harare West) and Mashonaland West Senator
Voice Chinake, were in hiding.
“Those that have been arrested are going through trauma and
have no access to food or hospitals. Our caucus meeting will map the way
forward and thereafter, we will issue a Press statement. We appeal to our
legislators to try to make it to Harare,” Mutseyami said.
“The relatives of those MPs that are in hiding have also
suffered a lot, with their mothers, fathers, sisters and brothers being
tortured to force them to disclose their whereabouts. We are under siege as MDC
Alliance members, although these demonstrations were not organised by us.
“But we are genuinely with the people and send our
condolences to families of those that were killed during the demonstrations. We
are terribly sorry for the unjustified deaths because loss of life is the worst
thing that can happen in a democracy.”
Government and the Zanu PF party have sought to pin the
violence on the opposition party, despite several of its officials, a senior
army and police officer being arrested for burning buses, looting, violence and
leading the protests.
“These arrests are a clear clampdown on our party for no
reason. It is problematic because one of our top members [Chibaya] has been
arrested and we do not know how far to the top [echelons of the party] they
want to go because, clearly, they are determined to extinguish the party,” MDC
spokesperson Jacob Mafume said.
“It is clear that this is a strategy to just weaken the
MDC,” he said, adding that they would then force them into a false interparty
dialogue. The issue in Zimbabwe has nothing to do with MDC, but they are
conveniently roping in the MDC because they are so scared of the MDC, they are
so afraid of MDC and they literally see the MDC in everything.
“There is persecution, which is in violation of the
fundamental rights of the Constitution. They have arrested over 800 people from
the structures and in some cases, it’s not even the police, it’s Zanu PF activists
literally leading police officers to say go and arrest there, yet it’s common
cause that the people who reigned terror in Harare included Zanu PF youths.”
Newsday
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