The Mugabe regime has moved swiftly to stop all investigations into murders committed by Zanu (PF) agents, including the police, army and militia, before during and after the March and June 2008 elections.
The MDC says more than 300 of its activists and officials were kidnapped and murdered during this period. A further 500 people disappeared and are presumed to have been murdered.
The order to drop all cases relating to murders committed during the run-up to last year’s June 27 presidential election came from Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri.
This is a clear indication that the reign of terror against MDC supporters was sanctioned at the highest level of government, and the perpetrators knew that they would never be punished – if indeed they were ever investigated at all.
A circular to all provincial commanders dated February 10 has been leaked to the media, in which Chihuri orders that all murder cases committed during the run-up to the sham June 27 election. MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai pulled out of this run off, citing violence against his supporters.
Chihuri's circular reads: "Please be advised that all murder cases committed during the run up to the presidential election run-off and have not been finalised be dropped immediately. The decision has been made in the spirit of promoting national healing in view of the inclusive government."
It is not clear who took the decision to drop the murder charges – whether instructions came from the politicians or whether this was done by the cabal of military generals who are working feverishly to disrupt the newly-inaugurated inclusive government.
Evidently this reprieve applies only to Zanu (PF members and not to the MDC, whose secretary general and deputy minister of agriculture designate, Roy Bennett, was kidnapped in Harare and driven to Mutare in General Constantine Chiwenga's vehicle before being charged with a variety of trumped up charges.Â
Chihuri has since dispatched deputy commissioner general Godwin Matanga to visit all provinces and explain to senior officers the implication of the directive.
Matanga yesterday confirmed that he was visiting provinces but denied that he was on an assignment to push for the dropping of murder cases.
"I am visiting provinces so that senior officers are aware of the developments taking place within the force as the new government takes control", said Matanga.
However sources within the police force said Matanga caused a stir when he visited Masvingo after he sought a meeting with court officials and instructing them to drop all cases of murder committed between March and June last year.
A court official who requested anonymity said that Matanga had unsuccessfully tried to convince officials to drop the murder charges.
"We told him that we will not be pushed and that the law has to take its course unless President Mugabe pardons them".
The country’s main opposition MDC claims that over 300 of its supporters were killed during the run-up to the one man presidential election run off.
The opposition has since called for the prosecution of all perpetrators of violence during the run-up to the election while Zanu-PF says the perpetrators should go free.
Speculation is rife within the police force that Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC might call for the prosecution of all perpetrators of violence, resulting in the arrest and prosecution of senior Zanu-PF officials.
Post published in: News