In an interview last Wednesday on the sidelines of a stakeholders meeting in the city, the Director of ZHRA, Hebert Mutowo, said forces aligned to President Robert Mugabe had stepped up a campaign to intimidate MDC-T supporters.
“With Zanu (PF) pushing for elections later this year, the members of the Zimbabwe National Army and Zimbabwe Republic Police have begun spearheading terror campaigns in various parts of the country where opposition supporters are being beaten and harassed,” said Mutowo. “This is meant to ensure that Mugabe has another stolen victory. We have reports that in some areas in the country, thousands of supporters belonging to Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai have been fleeing their
homes while others have been injured in the violence perpetrated by Zanu (PF) thugs aided by the police and the army,” he added.
ZHRA said SADC should take note that the violence will intensify prior to elections.
“We are saying that SADC must be aware that violence will increase towards the envisaged elections and we are urging SADC to put an end to these abuses,” Mutowo said.
SADC has come under fire for not flexing its muscle over the blatant violations by Mugabe of a power sharing deal that he signed with Tsvangirai in 2008.
Post published in: News