In an interview last Wednesday with The Zimbabwean, 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 (ZNA) and Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) 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 PM 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.
“It is unfortunate that everyone who talks of human rights abuses is arrested on allegations of plotting to overthrow Mugabe. We have had our members arrested for viewing video footage of the North African protests,” said the human rights activist.
Mutowo said the recent and continuous arrests of MDC-T supporters and human rights activists were part of a renewed campaign by the uniformed forces to intimidate the Mugabe opponents.
Post published in: Politics