HARARE Zanu (PF) is continuing to use the so-called sanctions issue to whip up emotions in its bid to cling to power. Many accuse the party of trying to steal the forthcoming election and using propaganda about the targeted measures as a red herring to confuse people. This week it exhumed 260 bodies it claims to be victims of Rhodesian Forces brutality in Chibondo village, Mt Darwin. Various Zanu (PF) frontmen continue to provoke nationalist indignation by claiming that the massacred people died for “sovereignty” which the “sanctions” want to take away again.
War veterans leader Jabulani Sibanda said the war of liberation had not ended and “the Ian Smith genocide warrants an International Criminal Court investigation.” But it is suspected the remains of those exhumed could be bodies of those killed in the 2008 election massacre.
Zimbabweans countrywide were last weekend dragooned to an anti-sanctions demo against the European Union (EU) and US smart sanctions against President Robert Mugabe and his inner circle. Zanu (PF) top dogs have been calling the measures disgraceful, but most people think it is the history of Zanu (PF)s reign that is the greatest disgrace to Zimbabwe.
The party commandeered even grandmothers in the rural areas to support its campaign, while two weeks ago a demonstration in Harare saw women, some of them so old it was painful to watch them almost crawl along the streets, force-marched to the rally.
Ten top Politburo members were assigned to each province to lead the campaign. The Masvingo campaign was headed by Webster Shamu; Manicaland, Sydney Sekeramayi, the Matabeleland South campaign by Nicholas Goche, Matabeleland North by Rugare Gumbo. The Mashonaland West campaign has been entrusted to Angeline Masuku; Mashonaland Central to Stan Mudenge; Mashonaland East to David Karimanzira. The Harare campaign was headed by Sikhanyiso Ndlovu, Bulawayo by Emmerson Mnangagwa, and Midlands by Oppah Muchinguri.
Meanwhile, police continue to harass and intimidate pro-democracy activists. Last week they raided the offices of Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition (CZC) in search of “subversive material”, searched the residence of the director, MacDonald Lewanika, and summoned Abel Chikomo, the director of the Zimbabwe Human Rights NGO Forum to report to Harare Central Police Station.
Invariably, the police and the regime accuse civic society groups of working in cahoots with Western countries that have imposed the targeted measures to topple Mugabe from power.
Post published in: News