Letters to the Editor

This politically motivated attack is very sad. It is alleged that most the people attacked were women and children whose families were attacked earlier in March 2011.

Those who tried to report the beatings and burning of their houses to the Police were turned away at the gate of the Cashel Valley Police station. It is really disturbing that this kind of spirit is still within our police force. Who then is going to help a poor villager who has lost his house and severely beaten? The negotiators of the election road map should come up with a clear clause that fairly deals with any perpetrators of violence regardless of their political opinion. Violence should be openly denounced by the Mugabe regime so that fear is not instilled into people ahead of the elections. – Danford Zimuto, London

Starved of military news

EDITOR – The military, generally, tends to be a closed community, preferring to operate behind a veil of secrecy and unwelcoming to outsiders- especially those from the media who are regarded as intrusive and prying. Such a level of secrecy is not ideal as it shuts out the media – the only window through which interested citizens can follow events in the military as they unfold. And this has made Zimbabwe literally dry of any military news except for the occasional drib and drab in the print and electronic media.

Save for David Martin’s, ‘The Struggle for Zimbabwe’, and just recently Machinates Como’s, ‘A Fine Madness’, there have hardly been any books about Zimbabwe’s military written in the last 30 years, even though our gallant men and women in uniform have been involved in significant battles locally and in a number of African countries.

The absence of authors, columnists, film producers, website designers and photographers with a special interest in our army and air force starves Zimbabwe of military publications and numerous newsy military events go unreported. – Cassius Sande, Harare

Reduce MPs, abolish senate

EDITOR – I would like to congratulate our popular party for hosting a successful congress. But I warn fellow cadres to put champagne on ice for now as the real work is just to begin.

Some are crying foul over the credibility of the whole process and the accompanying violence. reports of an orgy of violence accompanying the whole process. The executive team probe thoroughly to ensure that these are mere allegations and if not so, the perpetrators are brought to book. Remember that the whole idea of forming and supporting the MDC is to prove that we are a credible alternative to the tried, tested and dismally failed Zanu. If Zanu traits manifest lock, stock and barrel in the MDC, all might be lost.

And there is talk of the display of opulence at the congress – pigs growing fat while lambs starve. These allegations need also be investigated.

The question that reigns supreme is how are we going to take advantage of the lull or even demise of the Mugabe magic? Worrisome is the fact that our leaders in the MDC seem not to be saying anything about reducing the number of constituencies gerrymandered by Zanu to deny the MDC of outright victory in 2005 and 2008.

With our economy almost moribund, we may as well return to the 120 elected MPs and 30 proportional representation, traditional leaders as well as minorities. Provinces could be reduced to just six – Mashonaland East and West, Manicaland, Masvingo, Midlands and Matebeleland. Extra powers can then be devolved to these provinces to determine their own developmental agendas in the spirit of grounded action. The senate should also be abolished forthwith.

Unless we handle the coming weeks and months differently, people may not be able to distinguish us from Zanu. jirimugadzah, BY EMAIL