|
|
Zimbabwe: ZNA Refutes Political Violence Claims
 |
 Published by the government of Zimbabwe |
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
|
|
|||||||||
|
||||||||||
The Herald (Harare)
9 May 2008
Posted to the web 9 May 2008
Harare
The Zimbabwe National Army has refuted claims by some sections of the media that its members were perpetrating political violence and expressed concern over the increase in the harassment of soldiers by certain sections of the society.
In a statement, the deputy director of Army Public Relations Major Alois Makotore categorically distanced the army and any of its members from alleged harassing, assaulting people and robberies.
"The army is also concerned with the ever increasing incidents of some of its members going about their duties being provoked, insulted, abused and even attacked by some sections of our community for no good reasons.
"In the event of any incidents of criminality and conduct that is unbecoming relating to soldiers, members of public must report their concerns to the nearest police station or army camp," he said.
He said that the army does not condone any acts of criminality or any conduct, which is not consistent with the professional execution of duty as required by the law. The media, he said, should seek clarification from relevant army authorities before publishing such reports.
In a related matter, eight families from Madziva District in Mashonaland Central Province lost property worth billions of dollars when their homes were burnt down by suspected MDC-T supporters this week. Seven of the houses were burnt down on Monday and the eighth was torched on Tuesday night in Dambaza Village about 40 km from Bindura.
No one has been arrested over the incident and police are now maintaining a heavy presence in the area. Mashonaland Central provincial police spokesperson Inspector Nicisson Kasoso said they would continue to maintain their presence in the area as a deterrent to further attacks. One of the victims, Mr Mike Neuje, said suspected MDC-T activists threatened to come back to burn down homes of all known Zanu-PF activists in the area.
"I have lost crops, blankets and other property. I don't know what to do to feed the family. I am surprised at how the peace that prevailed during the run-up to the harmonised elections has turned to this violence," he said. Touched by the plight of the families of those who lost their property after passing through the area on Tuesday, the wife of the Commander of the Defence Forces General Constantine Chiwenga, Mrs Jocelyn Chiwenga on Wednesday donated clothing, cash and foodstuff to the victims.
The donation was made under the banner of the Zimbabwe Army Wives and Women Association. Mrs Mercy Sibanda, the wife of the Commander of the Army Lieutenant General Phillip Sibanda and other senior women soldiers accompanied Mrs Chiwenga. Handing over the goods, Mrs Chiwenga said ZAWWA had been touched by the plight of the families who were sleeping in the open after losing their homes and property. "This is a small token from the army officers' wives and serving women to the families of the people who lost their property to politically motivated violence in the area.
"The worst thing that anyone can do is burn someone's home for political expediency. Our people must be mature and learn to co-exist as members of different political parties," Mrs Chiwenga said. She warned the electorate against being used by the opposition and its western allies in presenting Zimbabwe as a country riddled with chaos but campaign peacefully for the impending presidential run-off elections.
Consoling some of the victims of the violence, Mrs Sibanda said army officers' wives and women would continue to work with all Zimbabweans regardless of their political affiliation. Mrs Sibanda and Mrs Chiwenga also donated a tonne of maize and $1 billion for milling so that the families have something to eat as more grain is being sourced.
One of the beneficiaries, Ambuya Naume Chimbudzi, said she was grateful for the donations, which she said, would go a long way in assisting her family during these trying times. The violence comes barely a month after similar attacks occurred in Mayo, Headlands. In Bindura, three suspected MDC-T activists were arrested in Simona area last week after they allegedly set on fire a maize field belonging to a Zanu-PF supporter following a political dispute.
|
The three, Nicholas Chadenyika (26), Norbert Chembe (19), Learnmore Chimwada (19), who were part of five-man gang, have since appeared before a Bindura magistrate on allegations of malicious injury to property.
Bindura magistrate Mr Felix Mawadza remanded the three in custody. It is alleged that the five met Mr Arkson Gono who was putting on a Zanu-PF T-shirt and confronted him saying he was not supposed to wear Zanu-PF regalia.
An altercation ensued before the five left the scene and set fire to Mr Gono's three-hectare maize field.
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Copyright © 2008 The Herald. All rights reserved. Distributed by AllAfrica Global Media (allAfrica.com). To contact the copyright holder directly for corrections -- or for permission to republish or make other authorized use of this material, click here. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Make allAfrica.com your home page | RSS Feed | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Top | Site Guide | Who We Are | Advertising | Search | Subscribe | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
| Questions or Comments? Contact us. Read our Privacy Statement. | |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
|
| |||||||||||||||||||||||||||||
