MUTARE - About 5 000 people turned up at a Provincial rally at Ngangu Grounds in Chimanimani East on Saturday while 5 000 more attended other rallies held at Mukamba and Gwagwadza Grounds respectively on Friday in Makoni South, Manicaland Province. In his key note address to the gathered crowd, Minister for Home Affairs Giles Mutsekwa took a swipe at the police forces for doing little to improve on service delivery and integrate well in the inclusive government to revive the nation.
He, however, was quick to assure the people that his ministry was working flat out to put the police officers back on track and make them realize their national duty.
Never ever will we witness police officers assisting Zanu (PF) and war veterans in assaulting the people. That era is past and gone. They should understand that they dont work for a particular individual or party but for the nation, said Mutsekwa.
He urged police forces to learn their duties and to act in the offices in which they are appointed in all diligence without being partisan.
Police officers should defend the government and not any political party. They should be law enforcers without being partisan or showing some corrupt tendencies. Leading is not being oppressive, fearsome, taking advantage of circumstances or vulnerable people. Leading is offering freedom, direction and ensuring that people live in harmony and peace, he said.
To this end he said, there is great need for police to magnify their callings and work diligently together with the members of the public to ensure that all criminals are brought to book and that people live in harmony and peace so as to ensure justice to all Zimbabweans despite their tribal, racial and political differences.
Mutsekwa reminded the people that as party they vowed in 2006 at their national congress not to take up arms but to remove Zanu (PF) through peaceful means.
He also reminded the people that the transitional government was not by mistake but was in accordance with their road map agreed in 2006.
The inclusive government is an instrument of soft-landing the crisis so that we can alleviate the suffering of the people pending a new Constitution and free and fair elections. Writing of a new constitution is an MDC initiative. We should own the process thereof. We should free proud to freely participate in all its proceedings, he said.
Mutsekwa explained to the people that as MDC they appreciated the work done by war veterans for as long as they remember that they fought for the liberation of Zimbabwe and not of a political party or for certain individuals.
He also took the opportunity to remind the people that a new Zimbabwe had not yet been reached. He urged the people not to over dose in this inclusive government.
Yes, the inclusive government though not fulfilling has indeed started to show some positive changes, but this should, however, not deceive the people and make them forget that we havent reached the New Zimbabwe that we are hoping for as a Party. The struggle is still going on and people should keep on pressing forward until a new dispensation of a new Zimbabwe is ushered, he said.
Mutsekwa also expressed the dire need for plurality of voices in the media sector. He said the airwaves should be freed.
He concluded by saying that BEAM, which was for long abused by Zanu (PF), was now under an MDC Minister, Minister Pauline Muparihwa and they wished to extend its coverage to secondary school level.
Speaking at the same occasion Prosper Mutseyami and Senator Keresensia Chabuka echoed the same sentiments and urged the people to utilise this golden opportunity of writing a new constitution and make their voices heard.
Post published in: News