The legislators said Mugabe was being insincere, and Zanu (PF) thugs were busy battering MDC activists outside Parliament as he made his sham call for peace. In his address, Mugabe claimed the coalition he formed in 2009 with his rival, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, was making steady progress, including establishing independent commissions and adopting electoral reforms. But it was his call for an end to violence amid escalating crackdown on MDC structures by thugs loyal to his Zanu (PF) that has angered the MDC legislators.
As Mugabe was speaking during the official opening address, supporters from his Zanu (PF) party were running amok outside the parliament building, attacking MDC supporters.
Nyanga South MP Willard Chimbetete said in the House of Assembly on Thursday Mugabe was the only person capable of stopping the violence, but he was insincere, and speaking with a forked tongue.
"He was instructing people not to be engaged in violence, but as he was saying that, people were being beaten outside there," Chimbetete said. "There was violence outside. We have heard about a group called Chipangano which is a violent group."
Chimbetete was talking about a purge of all market stalls and taxi ranks in the capital by the so-called Chipangano militia, which is now under the direct control of Zanu (PF) youth chairman, Jim Kunaka.
The militia has violently ejected all perceived MDC supporters from Mbare’s Mupedzanhamo flea market and last month invaded Machipisa market in Highfield under the same modus operandi. The markets have been doled out to Zanu (PF) supporters instead.
"We will not get any investors if there is violence in the capital city. When are you going to learn to campaign peacefully?" added Chimbetete.
Glen Norah MP Gift Dzirutwe said Mugabe's speech was uninspiring and accused the ageing leader of regurgitating the same old rhetoric.
"The leader of the nation is supposed to be inspiring his people and to invigorate them, but when the President said what he said, it was the same old story: investment is on the uptake. On the ground, it is different as the companies are closing. He was
talking about peace and the shortage of electricity. He could have extracted it from the previous speeches he made five or so years ago.
"On the issue of peace, there was violence outside Parliament Building but no one on this side totally agreed with the President and they never took it seriously when he repeated: no to violence."
Dzirutwe said two of his constituents were "massacred" outside Parliament.
Post published in: News