The weekend of violence in Harare comes as no surprise. Everything is going perfectly according to plan for Zanu (PF).
At the very beginning of the constitutional consultation process, a retired army major launched Operation Chimumumu, with the full backing of the Joint Operations Command the cabal of generals that really rules Zimbabwe today.
It has always been their firm intention that the people of Zimbabwe should not be allowed to exercise their right to freedom of expression. The Kariba Draft is Zanu (PF)s constitution of choice and that is that. They have been determined all along to foist this upon the people of Zimbabwe in just the same way as they have forced themselves upon us.
The generals control of the means of power is evidenced by the behaviour of the police last weekend. The COPAC consultations in Harare have been suspended because of political violence. The media is full of reports that truckloads of policemen either sat and watched or actively participated in the violence on the side of Zanu (PF). These reports prove beyond any reasonable doubt that innocent and law-abiding citizens cannot rely on the nations police force to protect them, or to maintain law and order.
It is ironic that before the COPAC meetings got underway, the Commissioner of Police, Augustine Chihuri, demanded and received – millions of dollars to be paid to the force for the specific purpose of safeguarding the consultative meetings.
In future, COPAC would be better off paying for private security guards to provide protection at meetings rather than wasting money to enable thugs in police uniform to disrupt their meetings, or to stand idly by while Zanu (PF) hooligans disrupt them.
Throughout the consultative process this newspaper has carried reports of violence and disruptions at COPAC meetings around the country. There has been a clear, coordinated pattern orchestrated by Zanu (PF) to keep Zimbabweans mum, while a carefully selected, vociferous few supported the Kariba Draft.
The behaviour of the shamelessly partisan police force in attacking peaceful, un-armed demonstrators mostly women and children as they marched in Harare on Monday is but another case in point. Zanu (PF) has been consistent the voice of the people will not be heard
Post published in: Editor: Wilf Mbanga