THE July 31 Movement has set aside August 31 for “more
protests” to pile pressure on the government to end corruption, arbitrary
arrests and other gross human rights violations against civilians and
activists, its spokesperson Job Sikhala said yesterday.
Sikhala, who is MDC Alliance vice-chair, is in hiding as
police bay for his blood for allegedly inciting violence by calling for
protests against the Zanu PF government.
Speaking from his hideout, Sikhala gave President Emmerson
Mnangagwa and his regime 10 days to stop all acts of alleged abductions and
torture of the citizens and ensure workers are paid in a stable currency.
“Stop forthwith the on-going abductions, torture and sexual
assaults of citizens. Take immediate and full responsibility for all previous
cases of abductions, torture and sexual assaults of citizens and hold everyone
involved in these cases to account in terms of national and international law,”
the Zengeza West legislator said.
“Stop politically-motivated arrests of citizens forthwith,
end forthwith all political trials that are before the courts and get the
Zimbabwe Anti-Corruption Commission (ZACC) to arrest and charge all persons
involved in massive corruption and looting of public resources and State
assets.”
He added: “If Mnangagwa’s regime does not act within the
specified ultimatum period, Zimbabweans will join hands on Monday August 31,
2020 to protest against its complicity and inaction.”
Sikhala said on the same day, the South African opposition
Economic Freedom Fighters together with “our brothers and sisters in South
Africa” will shut down the Beitbridge Border Post in solidarity with
Zimbabweans “whose lives and livelihoods have been put in grave danger by
Mnangagwa’s regime”.
“It is outrageous that Zimbabwe’s prisons are currently
filled with prisoners of conscience, who are demanding accountability from the
regime, while masters of corruption, abductors and human rights abusers roam
around free,” he said.
Sikhala is on the police wanted list together with several
other activities who are accused of organising the July 31 protest, which was
foiled by the military and police.
Mnangagwa yesterday celebrated the failure of the July 31
push, saying it had shamed his detractors.
“I want to commend the party and the citizens in general
for shunning the machinations of violence and division through the planned
ill-fated July 31 insurrection.
“Following the failure, our detractors are evidently in
disarray and desperate and grasping at straws to destroy confidence in our
democratically-elected government. They are equally on overdrive to discredit
our people centred programmes,” the Zanu PF leader told his party’s politburo
meeting in Harare. Newsday
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