In an interview with this paper last week, Deputy Justice Minister, Obert Gutu, who also serves as MDC-T Harare Provincial spokesperson, said his party had provided the Attorney General’s office and the police with a dossier of names of suspects.
“We waiting for the suspects to be charged, or, at the very least, investigated. We are certain those we have identified were heavily involved. They include members of the security services, serving and retired,” Gutu said.
He said the MDC did not intend to victimise the perpetrators of violence but to ensure the delivery of justice.
“Those who were involved should know that the chickens will be coming home to roost very soon. We are disciples of constitutionalism and, as such, we do not wish to interfere with the work of the prosecuting authority or the police – but we demand justice for our members,” said Gutu.
Gutu, a renowned lawyer, added that MDC-T was ready to provide witnesses when the trials take off, but would not reveal their names, fearing they might be victimised by security forces.
“It is a lie to say that we do not have evidence nor that we have provided it. The police are in possession of all this and are aware that we have witnesses. Their failure to investigate or prosecute is driven by fear of what might come out of the trials – which will open a can of worms,” he said.
There are sharp differences between Zanu (PF) and the two MDC formations regarding the jurisdiction of the Human Rights Commission, which despite being set up several years ago, is not yet operational because there is no statute that regulates it. The MDC parties want the Commission to investigate the human rights abuses of 2008 and the Gukurahundi murders that took place in the 1980s when President Robert Mugabe’s army descended on southern Zimbabwe to fight what it called military dissidents.
The MDC says more than 400 people were killed by Zanu (PF) in 2008, while the Catholic Commission for Justice and Peace said around 20,000 innocent civilians were butchered during the Gukurahundi campaign.
Post published in: News