MDC denounces violence

The MDC has never believed in the politics of violence and denounces the barbaric politics of brutal coercion. Zimbabweans know that as a party, the MDC has never been a perpetrator but a victim of political violence and we condemn whoever was responsible for the primitive acts of barbarism.

We have walked the long, dark road of violence for the past seven years. We have been victims of violence and we are aware of its implications at personal, family and national level. Violence does not pay.

The MDC believes in a free and unfettered press. Our information and communications policy makes it clear that press freedom should be an integral part of the bill of rights because we believe in the freedom of journalists to operate in a free and unfettered environment.    

The MDC leadership, itself scarred by unmitigated Zanu PF and police violence on 11 March 2007, has never believed in brutality against fellow Zimbabweans; let alone a committed independent press operating in a repressive environment. Media freedom is an item on the agenda of the dialogue currently taking place in South Africa. As a party, we argued to have this item on the agenda because we firmly believe that democracy starts with a free press. It would be disgraceful on our part if on one hand we are advocating for media freedom and on the other we are seen to be assaulting journalists.

Zimbabwe has seen enough violence. The nation wants to start afresh. Zanu PF has spilled enough blood in this country. A free press is the cornerstone of our struggle for a new Zimbabwe.

As a party, we believe that violence is firmly located in the realm of Zanu PF. Zimbabweans should be aware of a deliberate effort by Zanu PF agents and its external hand to soil and to malign the image of President Morgan Tsvangirai and the MDC ahead of a crucial election. We are aware that money has exchanged hands and merchants of death have been paid in a mammoth agenda to project the MDC and its leadership as violent in the run up to the make-or-break plebiscite. Zanu PF is running scared.

The fourth Estate should be protected. We believe that journalists must feel free to tell the story of Zimbabwe especially as we slog towards the next election. The MDC, which has been blacked out of the public media against the spirit of the SADC guidelines on the conduct of free and fair elections, cannot be seen to be assaulting journalists from the independent press who are operating in a hostile environment to tell the true story of Zimbabwe.