Moyo, like many who commented soon after the disturbances, called on the police to “move with speed and take necessary measures to bring to book the sponsors and the perpetrators of the violence.”
The unprecedented attack, described by Moyo as ‘primitive’, targeted MPs and journalists during a public hearing on the Human Rights Commission Bill on Saturday. The disturbances by well known figures from ZANU PF has left Zimbabwe’s already questionable image of political tolerance once again in tatters.
“This is yet another unhelpful entry on the long ledger of the political culture on intolerance, violence, and the sanctioning of criminal hordes to do the dirty work of those who cherish violence,” Moyo said a press conference on Tuesday.
He added: “This violence continues to keep Zimbabwe high up on the international relations scene for all the wrong reasons.”
Scores of riot police officers were present at Parliament on Saturday, but they did little to stop the attacks. The public outcry was immediate and loud, with condemnation coming from ordinary Zimbabweans, politicians, NGOs and rights activists. Human rights activists have also once again condemned the police inaction saying as a State apparatus, they failed to guarantee basic freedom rights by protecting innocent civilians during a public hearing in Parliament.
Briefing journalists in Harare, the speaker from the MDC-T party said the disruptions of the public hearings are a serious cause of concern. Four of the seven scheduled public hearings were disrupted by ZANU PF hooligans in Chinhoyi, Masvingo, Mutare and Harare last week.
“Therefore, it is our conclusion that these disruptions are politically motivated, calculated and sponsored. Further, it has been reported and is now in the public domain that MPs, journalists and members of the public were assaulted by rowdy gangs identified as ZANU PF activists who were dropped off at Parliament as they chanted their party songs and slogans,” Moyo said.
ZANU PF politburo member Tendai Savanhu, who lost the 2008 parliamentary election in Mbare to MDC-T’s Pineal Denga, has been fingered in sponsoring the mob.
He allegedly paid for the transport that bussed in the visibly drunk thugs who caused mayhem at Parliament, the third arm of the State. The other two are the executive and the judiciary.
One analyst told SW Radio Africa that violence against MDC activists and Zimbabweans is now an almost daily occurrence, yet Robert Mugabe does nothing to address this.
“Mugabe has repeatedly failed to react to or even acknowledge acts of political violence. The shocking Saturday disturbances are a concrete example of state-sponsored violence against the country’s own citizens,” the analyst said.
Post published in: News