JOMIC a toothless bulldog – stakeholders

Stakeholders, including civil society and other political parties, claimed the unity government had failed to institute significant democratic reforms after its formation. They said human rights defenders and people remain at the mercy of brutal state agency. Others voiced concern over the arbitrary arrest of opposition supporters by police on trumped-up charges.

The unity government has failed to institute significant democratic reforms since its formation. Violence continues in the countryside while on going abuse of property and individual rights by state institutions officials linked to Zanu (PF) is clear testimony that there are no democratic reforms yet, said one activist.

An MDC-T representative at the meeting said since the creation of JOMIC; cases of violence and intimidation were still being reported while selective application of the law by the partisan police was a cause for concern. JOMIC is not doing anything to stop intimidation and violence. So to say the unity government has stopped violence is misleading. Some of our members who languishing in jails on trumped up charges and denied bail, said the official. Goche earlier on said the biggest benefit deriving from the inclusive government was that political violence and intimidation has disappeared and JOMIC was investigating a few cases which had been brought to their attention. Elton Mangoma of the MDC-T also attended the meeting.

Stakeholders described JOMIC as toothless bulldog as evidenced by its failure to take drastic measures against some Zanu (PF) politicians who are failing to abide by court orders to stop illegal farm invasions as prescribed in the GPA. Civil society organizations and other stakeholders also urged the government to revisit its controversial Indigenization law, saying it was likely to scare away investors and tear apart the already fragile economy.