Sadly, in the past few weeks there have been several incidents of political violence in various parts of the country. Media reports indicate that Zanu (PF) is already setting up its notorious bases in some areas. Some of the bases are located at rural schools thereby interfering with the education of innocent young children. Soldiers are still prone to taking the law into their own hands whenever one of them is confronted by members of the public – even over a legitimate misunderstanding.
We make the following rather serious observations on this sudden preaching of the gospel of peace by our national leaders. First, President Mugabe knows very well that most of the violence experienced in June 2008 was perpetrated by war veterans, soldiers and Zanu (PF) youth militia. In all his pronouncements against political violence, he never even once identified any of these groups to reprimand them or to discourage them from acts of violence. Yes, Mugabe has castigated some of his faithful followers for using his name and telling lies in his name. What he has failed to also say is that some of the perpetrators of violence have commonly committed acts of violence in his name. Why does he refrain from condemning them for these misdemeanours? Perhaps he endorses their acts of violence. Perhaps he is aware that without such acts of cowardice his party would not have a ghost of a chance of winning parliamentary seats. Indeed, he himself would lose the presidential election – as we all witnessed in March 2008.
Second, we note that the absence of political violence in the forthcoming referendum and elections will not necessarily mean that these landmark plebiscites will be free and fair. There is much more than just non-violence to the realisation of free and fair elections. We are still to hear Mugabe calling for the full implementation of the reforms charted out in the Global Political Agreement (GPA).
Prime Minister Tsvangirai has called for these times without number – but all to no avail. Most of these reforms will go a long way to facilitate the holding of free and fair elections. The nation is waiting to hear our national leaders speaking with one voice on the need for the implementation of agreed legal, institutional and other reforms as spelt out in the GPA.
Here again, we are aware that Zanu (PF) is not at all keen to see any of the agreed reforms implemented before the next elections. It is true that most of the reforms will be tantamount to eroding Zanu (PF)’s current level of power.
The third observation that needs to be made is that Mugabe has never ordered the police to arrest known Zanu (PF) perpetrators of violence. Tsvangirai has many times called for the arrest and prosecution of these criminals – to no avail. Indeed, at one time the MDC submitted a full report detailing some of the reported cases of political violence, but the Zimbabwe Republic Police declined to take any action against the identified hoodlums. Recently, Commissioner General of Police, Augustine Chihuri, spoke strongly against political violence, but it remains to be seen whether or not he will be true to his words of caution. – makumbe60@gmail.com
Post published in: Opinions & Analysis