It doesn’t take much to see where the problem lies. A simple analysis of the current state of the country can be done by capturing and cataloguing news articles about the country. For the month of April, a list of 79 articles were selected from the internet media, with the criteria that they each represent a record of a unique event that details a breach of the terms of the GPA. They were then categorised according to nature of breach, and basic statistics drawn from them.
The results – from the month of April 2010 – are staggering. Twenty-two articles (27.8% of the total) detailed cases of violence, intimidation, hate speech and abductions, of which Zanu (PF) were accountable for 90.9%. Cases of subversion of legal processes were second with 17 articles (21.5% of the total), and harassment through the courts of MDC supporters and politicians came in third with 11 articles (13.9% of the total) – of which Zanu (PF) was accountable for 100% of both cases.
Summarising just these three most significant categories, Zanu (PF) were accountable for 60.8% of breaches of the GPA that were recorded for this exercise. Space does not allow us to publish more details in this document, but suffice to say, the remaining 49.2% of breaches recorded are also almost all attributable to Zanu (PF).
The most disturbing aspect of the whole situation is the fact that Zanu (PF) and the two MDC formations are supposedly not in a state of conflict. They are – on paper at least – three willing and equal partners to a national political alliance underwritten by a regional political body, the SADC.
The facts (in the news articles appended below) lay bare a painful reality. While the two MDC formations may hold the moral high ground, they are politically and influentially junior partners in the GPA. Zanu (PF) is very definitely still in control of power in Zimbabwe – with the obvious and shameful collusion and support of regional African leaders.
Violence again took centre stage this month. Even Zanu (PF) was not immune as a report on a provincial meeting of Zanu (PF)’s Mashonaland West province showed. At the meeting a former Chairman and the Chakari MP were dragged out and beaten up by other Zanu (PF) party officials. This was done in front of politburo members who attended the meeting. Only two politburo members tried to intervene. The others just watched.
Rural violence increased significantly as Zanu (PF) appears to be gearing up for intimidation of the electorate before a Constitutional outreach campaign. Evidence suggests the Zanu (PF) MP for Muzarabani South is promoting violence and torture in his district by Zanu (PF) militia and youths with the blessing of the Zanu (PF) Provincial Governor. In one incident, 16 families from Charunda village in Muzarabani fled at night to seek refuge 84 km away, trying to escape organized terror from a group of 200 Zanu (PF) youths sponsored by the MP. He has “given” free rein to militia to burn down homes and cause mayhem in villages. The Governor has allegedly also ordered Police not to interfere with Zanu (PF) activities in the province.
April also saw Zanu (PF) honing their skills at abusing legal processes, where twice they blocked Parliament’s Committee on Mines from carrying out a fact-finding mission in the Marange diamond field. For a second time, members gathered in Harare to travel to Manicaland, but were told the Ministry had not cleared them to enter Marange. The Clerk of Parliament had requested clearance from the Ministry of Mines, but the Permanent Secretary replied his Ministry was not responsible for giving clearances to classified or protected areas, but the Home Affairs Ministry told the Clerk that Police Clearance could not be given until the Ministry of Mines had given its assent, leaving the legislative Committee stymied.
Again, showing their ability to subvert legal issues, Police in Harare are so scared of investigating Minister of Local Government Ignatius Chombo and businessman Phillip Chiyangwa over the land grab scandal, that the City Council was forced to appeal to highly ranked Police officers to intervene. Acting Mayor, Charity Bango, had to write a letter of complaint to the Officer Commanding Criminal Investigation Department and urge him to act on the investigations, copying the letter to the Police Commissioner and Co-Ministers of Home Affairs.
In a similar vein, Zanu (PF) continued its harassment of MDC officials through the legal system. Bikita West MDC legislator Heya Shoko faces a murder charge – instead of culpable homicide – after fatally knocking down a child whilst driving. A legal expert said it was very unusual for a person to be charged with murder arising from a traffic accident unless intention to kill had been fully established. In another questionable arrest, two provincial leaders from MDC-T in Mashonaland Central were accused of “disrespecting” Zanu (PF) Governor Martin Dinha. The MDC chairperson for Mashonaland Central and the District Treasurer were arrested for not standing during Independence Day celebrations in Bindura. When the MDC Mayor arrived, Zanu (PF) supporters remained seated, so in ‘retaliation’ the MDC supporters didn’t stand when the Zanu (PF) Governor arrived, resulting in the arrest.
Turning to the Constitution drafting process, Zanu (PF) has clandestinely launched ‘Operation Hapana Anotaura’ – meant to stop the rural population participating in the decision making. Sources say that Zanu (PF) plans to make sure that grass-roots citizens cannot air their views during the Constitutional outreach programme. As reported above, there has been a huge rise in cases of intimidation and violence, aimed at making people endorse the Kariba Draft constitution that Robert Mugabe favours. – Further information, with links to original sources for all cases mentioned above, are available online at www.sokwanele.com/zigwatch
Post published in: Opinions