On June 10, Zanu (PF) militias shut down the NCA office in Masvingo. This followed a spate of violent activities by members of Zanu (PF) youth militias and personal threats made against NCA officials.
On June 11, uniformed members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) forced the NCA Matebeleland South office to close on the grounds that NGOs must not be operating as per the government’s recent directive.
On June 8, the police arrested the NCA Chairperson for Guruve Constituency, Biggie Bangira, on baseless grounds. On the same day, the home of the NCA Information Secretary in Epworth, Musa Mabika, was torched by militia. Mabika’s wife and sister were severely beaten and are currently recovering in hospital.
Leon Chiimba, the NCA Mashonaland East Chairperson, received death threats from Zanu (PF) militias and was forced to flee his home.
These and other incidents of intimidation point to an unacceptable pattern of state-sponsored violence that is shrinking democratic space in Zimbabwe. The current constitutional framework creates an environment in which barbaric acts can be perpetrated, and human rights violated, with impunity. This is not democracy. This is not what the war of liberation was waged for. The revolution cannot be protected by acts that violate the very principles upon which the revolution must be based. The time has come for the people of Zimbabwe to be liberated from the oppressive constitutional regime presided over by Zanu (PF), an NCA spokesperson said.
To its members and officials who have been exposed to acts of violence and intimidation the NCA says: Do not give up. Keep up the fight. Freedom is on its way.
Post published in: News