On 22 February, an IRIN correspondent witnessed running battles between
supporters of Tsvangirai’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and
followers of President Robert Mugabe’s ZANU-PF in the working-class
suburb of Mbare, in the capital, Harare.
The Mbare violence has its roots in the 2008 eviction of tenants from
municipal accommodation for allegedly supporting the MDC during the
general election in March. ZANU-PF supporters were then given the
accommodation.
Buoyed by the formation of unity government, the MDC supporters – who
had lost their homes and property – descended on the new occupants to
reclaim their homes, sparking off the violence.
Welshman Ncube, chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Implementation
Committee (JOMIC) established to oversee implementation of the
power-sharing deal, told IRIN that numerous reports of "revenge
attacks" had been received from across the country.
In many instances, everywhere I go, some MDC supporters have requested
a few minutes to ‘deal’ with their rivals, but I have called for peace
and national healing among Zimbabweans "Officials from the ministry of
home affairs have tabled before us reports that revenge attacks are
taking place in Harare, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central
[provinces in northeastern Zimbabwe], Manicaland [bordering
Mozambique], Masvingo [in the southeast] and the Midlands Province," he
said.
The MDC has claimed that more than 200 of its supporters were killed
between the March and June polls in 2008, which were said to have been
orchestrated by security chiefs loyal to Mugabe.
Thousands of people were beaten, raped and displaced, while others had
their livestock confiscated and homes razed, the MDC has alleged.
"In many areas it would appear that supporters of the MDC, who were
ill-treated by ZANU-PF members, are demanding and implementing their
own form of justice. Others are demanding the return of livestock which
was confiscated and eaten at ZANU-PF militia torture camps during
election campaign," Ncube said.
"Anyone who believes that the law was violated should make a report to
the police. Violence and retribution only create more lawlessness, and
we are not about retribution."
JOMIC has instructed political commissars and national chairpersons of
all parties to speak out against tit-for-tat violence. In Mashonaland
Central a senior ZANU-PF official was reportedly in a coma after being
attacked by unidentified assailants.
Ahead of his inauguration Tsvangirai said: "In many instances,
everywhere I go, some MDC supporters have requested a few minutes to
‘deal’ with their rivals, but I have called for peace and national
healing among Zimbabweans." – IRIN
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