MDC urges security chiefs to act against violence

 MDC spokesman Nelson Chamisa said the party also wanted Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander Constantine Chiwenga and police chief Augustine Chihuri to explain why soldiers and police have taken part in victimising opposition supporters.

 Chamisa said: We need clarification from Chiwenga why members of the army are beating up opposition activists and supporters.

 We want Chihuri to explain why the police are not acting to quell the violence, the arson and the murders committed against opposition supporters. Chihuri should also explain why police are allowing ZANU PF (ruling party) militias to set up torture bases.

 Both Chiwenga and Chihuri were not immediately available for comment on the matter.

 The two men are considered hardliner backers of President Robert Mugabe and are said to be among a group of top security commanders who advised Mugabe not to concede defeat to the opposition.

 Chiwenga declared just days before the March elections that the military would salute no one else except Mugabe, in what analysts said was a clear threat to stage a military coup in the event the veteran President lost to MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai.

 The MDC says hundreds of its supporters have suffered serious injuries while at least 10 supporters have been murdered in an orgy of violence it blamed on state security agents and militant activists of Mugabe’s ZANU PF party.

 The opposition party, which says the violence started almost immediately after it defeated ZANU PF in elections on March 29, says some of its supporters in remote rural areas were homeless after their homes were looted and burnt down by activists of Mugabe’s party.

 ZANU PF lost its parliamentary majority for the first time in 28 years in last month’s election when it garnered 97 seats compared to 110 won by the MDC and other minor opposition candidates.

 But electoral officials are yet to issue the much awaited results of a parallel presidential vote, which ZANU PF acknowledges Mugabe lost to Tsvangirai, although they say a second round of voting is required to settle the contest. – ZimOnline.