Mahiya was speaking in the wake of a police crackdown on Non Governmental Organisations, the media fraternity, perceived Zanu (PF) opponents and the Prime Ministers’s office. He said such police conduct had the potential to tear apart the spirit of the GPA.
He said though people should be peaceful as Zimbabwe prepares for harmonised elections, the government and the state should not take people for granted by violating their rights.
“What we are witnessing now is state institutions tearing apart the spirit of the GPA and fanning the spirit of political polarization. This is detrimental to nationhood, especially at a time when Zimbabweans are in an election mood,” Mahiya said.
He said such police behaviour would force people to lose confidence in the police.
“State institutions such as police and the judiciary should conduct themselves in a professional manner for people to invest confidence in them,” he said.
He noted that it was disturbing to learn that there was an escalation of state repression of civic society, members of the legal fraternity and MDC formations.
“Our assessment is that Zanu (PF) is sending clear messages that it is in control of state institutions and business, not MDC or anyone else.”
Mahiya said there could not be national healing in an environment where state institutions oppressed people and perpetrators of violence remained at large.
“People want a nation where individuals look at each other as nationals not Zanu (PF) and MDC. This persistent state of bi-polarisation is disturbing and not in the best interest of the nation,” said Mahiya.
Mahiya said despite the disturbing ongoing conduct of some state institutions it was encouraging to note that the Draft Constitution had provision for national healing.
He said when the Draft Constitution comes into law, everybody should respect it and not render it another useless piece of paper. “Zimbabwe needs a Constitution which will be followed by all citizens.”
The police force has been accused of attempting to silence civic societies which it accuses of operating out of their mandate. Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s staffers continue to be arrested on ‘flimsy’ charges and human rights lawyer, Beatrice Mtetwa, is in police custody for asking police to produce a search warrant and an inventory of items confiscated at homes of her clients.
Post published in: News