Recent reports of violence in Chiweshe, Mutoko and other former Zanu PF are a great cause of concern for the pro-democracy Zimbabweans, including a few right-minded people within Zanu PF, who, unfortunately, are a tiny minority to be of any influence, and could even be scared to publicly condemn acts of violence perpetrated by elements within their own party.
Such hideous, barbaric acts fly in the face of National Healing and Reconciliation initiative.
Peace is a pre-requisite for any national healing effort. I appreciate the efforts made by the Organ of National Healing to visit and meet chiefs and community leaders in some parts of the country, but would be happier if the organ was capable of responding ugly incidents such as the violence in Chiweshe, but immediately visiting the area, call a meeting with chiefs and other community leaders and the leaders of the political parties involved to condemn the ugly acts and stress in very strong terms that violence has no place in the new Zimbabwe. They should take with them ministers of Home Affairs, Giles Mutsekwa and Kembo Mohadi who should instruct the police to quickly move in and arrest the culprits.
However, the real solution would have been if political parties can restrain their supporters. The recent acts of violence that have been reported are perpetrated by Zanu PF, and does this mean that Mugabe has grown too old to restrain his violent supporters, or is he in fact inciting them to attack MDC supporters with the hope that this may help him win elections which he himself has confirmed should take place within the next two years? If its a question of old age, then why does Jonathan Moyo want him to hang on to office when he is no longer capable of delivering?
Talking of Jonathan Moyo, Zanu PF may do well to demand a refund if they had paid Jonathan to prop them up ahead of the 2011 elections, because his efforts are producing the opposite results. You can fool a people once or twice, but not for the third time.
MDC should invite all African ambassadors based in Harare to go and witness the barbaric acts of violence perpetuated by Zanu PF, preferably before 29 October 2009 when we hear a SADC summit or a meeting of the SADC Troika on Peace and Security meets to intervene in the impasse resulting from Mugabe and Zanu PF failing to comply with the Global Political Agreement. Allowing the SADC ambassadors first hand experience of Zanu PF brutality may in the long run help persuade SADC leaders to appreciate the extent of the Zimbabwean Mugabe created crisis and find a quicker solution.
And for the few right-minded Zanu PF loyalists who still remain in the sinking ship, why not take good advice and leave, as there is now abundant proof that always a violent party since attaining power, Zanu PF will die a violent party. Why not join other progressive Zimbabweans to bring peace, stability and development to Zimbabwe. Why remain part of Zanu PF when its spin doctors tells you that irrespective of his incompetence due to old age, Mugabe must die President of Zimbabwe – who knows if God will keep him for another ten years or even more.
Benjamin Chitate
New Zealand
