Attacks on US & UK Diplomats in Harare, an act of desperation

The illegitimate government of President Robert Mugabe and those proping it like the youth militia and war veterans must exercise restraint and deal with the diplomats within the framework of the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations (1961). 

Attacking diplomats is the latest strategy by the government of Zimbabwe to silence critics and conceal the truth regarding the ongoing terror campaign taking place in the rural areas.CCDZ commends the bravery of the US and UK diplomats in Harare and urges the other diplomats from the sub-region and Africa not to be complicit with the Harare regime which is committing gross human rights abuses against the citizens.We urge other diplomats from Africa and other influential countries like Norway, Sweden, Switzerland, Holland, Australia,New Zealand,Canada, France and others to join these visits to the rural areas to express solidarity with the defenceless people of Zimbabwe who want change. 

We totally reject the peddling of lies by the government of President Mugabe about the intentions of the diplomats.CCDZ contends that the visit by a team of diplomats to Bindura to assess the political situation ahead of the presidential run-off,scheduled for 27 June does not in any way constitute political interference. We call for more of such visits by the diplomats to other areas such as Jerera in Masvingo, Mhangura, Murewa, Mazowe, Mt Darwin , Shamva, Mutoko, Mudzi,Uzumba-Maramba, Pfungwe where people continue to be tortured for supporting the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). These areas and many others in the countryside have been declared no-goes by marauding ZANU PF youths and the war veterans. 

CCDZ condemns the ongoing violence in the rural areas which is instigated by State agents and the militia groups aligned to ZANU PF. The ongoing violence has left our communities shattered and people desperate.The MDC is being prevented from campaigning in the rural areas by the ZANU PF militia and war veterans who have set up detention centres in most parts of the country.The reluctance by police to dismantle this infrastructure of violence shows that the State is sponsoring attacks against the MDC.Many activists and members of the MDC who have fled from their wards will not be able to cast their vote on 27 June.