The MDC ALLIANCE took issue with the security forces for
failing to intervene when the MDC-T took over Harvest House and instead
deliberately tried to sully the image of the uniformed forces by making false
claims they were actively involved in the process, the US Embassy in Harare has
been told.
In a letter to the embassy, MDC-T acting president Dr
Thokozani Khupe said MDC-T security officials took over the building in central
Harare on June 4 without incident pursuant to the March 31 Supreme Court ruling
which nullified Mr Chamisa’s leadership of the party.
The ruling also placed Dr Khupe at the helm of the MDC-T
pending an extraordinary congress to elect a new leader.
A number of Western embassies led by the United States
Embassy released statements accusing the army and the police of storming the
building in order to clear the way for the takeover.
“We are dismayed by the politicised use of security forces
to take over the headquarters of an opposition party and arrest its members. A
healthy democracy requires healthy opposition parties. #PoliticalArrests
#AHouseStolen,” tweeted the US Embassy without verifying the claims.
Dr Khupe’s office, however, has since given a detailed
account of how the handover-takeover process unfolded.
“Our team of the security officers who took over Morgan
Richard Tsvangirayi House (MRT — formerly Harvest House) were only three in
number,” reads the letter dated July 1, 2020. There was no army or police at
the time that they entered.
“For the avoidance of doubt, the army and the police did
not take part in the handover of the headquarters as alleged.”
Following the takeover MDC Alliance secretary-general
Charlton Hwende led an abortive attempt to violently storm the building backed
by a group of party youths. Dr Khupe said hours after her party announced the
takeover, a group of 45 youths led by Mr Hwende came to the building before
attempting to forcibly gain entry.
Police details who were patrolling nearby, said Dr Khupe,
immediately called for reinforcements before arresting five youths who were
part of Mr Hwende’s gang.
“Later, Charlton Hwende went to the front side of the
building where a few police had gathered,” the letter further states.
“He asked them to help him and his crowd to gain entry into
the building and they refused to do that.
“The army personnel who were parked further up the street
refused to have anything to do with Hwende and his group.”
The following day, said Dr Khupe, her party later
intercepted WhatsApp messages mobilising around 700 youths to storm the
building.
“Faced with a possibility of violence that would erupt as a
result and in a bid to prevent any injury or possible death from occurring, we
rushed to the Magistrates Court and obtained an interdict against these
people,” she said.
“The interdict ordered the officials of the MDC Alliance to
stop trying to take possession of MRT House without a valid court order.
“It also specifically directed the police to maintain law
and order at and around MRT House. The police were ordered to ensure that the
Magistrates Court order was enforced.
“Apparently, based on the misinformation, the US Embassy
issued a statement to the effect that our legal repossession of our premises
included the involvement of the military and police.”
On two occasions, she said, the MDC Alliance through its
legal counsel and officials had publicly admitted that neither the police nor
the army were involved in the takeover.
In an application filed before the High Court on June 6 by
MDC-T chief of security Mr Washington Gaga against the Commissioner-General of
Police, the MDC Alliance absolved the police and army of participating in the
takeover.
“In Paragraphs 10, 11 and 12 (of the application) he
categorically states that the building was taken over by Paul Gorekore, Friday
Muleya and Tendai Muchekahanzu on the 4th of June 2020 and not by the army and
the police,” reads Dr Khupe’s letter.
She adds that another letter to Harare provincial police
from MDC-A lawyers, Atherstone and Cook, further absolves the security forces
from any involvement.
“These lawyers represent the MDC Alliance,” said Dr Khupe. “They wrote a letter to the Dispol (ZRP District) Harare
where they made a complaint that the police and the army had refused to
intervene when the building was being taken.
“They stated that it was Charlton Hwende who tried to get
the assistance of the police.
“The same lawyers then requested the police eject the
people who had taken legal occupation of the building. It is clear from the
foregoing that a lot of misinformation was generated about our relationship
with the police and army during our repossession of the building.
“While the MDC Alliance wanted violence and lawlessness, we
made use of legal channels to avert bloodshed and anarchy.”
The MDC-T, said Dr Khupe, would welcome an independent
inquiry into the circumstances.
“It is unfortunate that the US embassy issued statements
before verifying the facts,” she concluded. Sunday Mail
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