Wilson Johwa
11 July 2008
Johannesburg — THERE is growing evidence that retaliatory violence by supporters of Zimbabwe's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) is taking an organised form, says Peter Kagwanja, a director of research at the Human Sciences Research Council (HSRC).
Kagwanja told reporters at the launch of a new report on Zimbabwe in Johannesburg yesterday, that those who lost their lives at the start of the violence against MDC activists were specifically selected for having undergone some form of military training.
These victims, about five of them, were leaders of "democratic resistance committees" .
Kagwanja said although there was no indication that retaliation was official MDC policy, it appeared MDC supporters were starting to undergo training in order to protect themselves from attack.
"Regional actors and the international community must not only take note of this new development but also condemn incipient retaliatory violence involving the opposition, including encouraging it to stick to a nonviolent democratic struggle," he said.
There were strong indications that the culture of violence, long associated with Zanu (PF), had gradually permeated the MDC, he said.
"MDC is very insecure to the point that they would want to arm at least for their own security," he said, without citing specific instances.
However, he brushed aside queries from circumspect reporters. "It's not anecdotal, we've done interviews," Kagwanja said.
His colleague, Kwandiwe Kondlo, said antigovernment resistance operations always tended to be secretive.
"It's the kind of evidence you can't get by being there because these operations are by their very nature clandestine," he said.
Kagwanj a said that he had learnt through a contact that Zimbabwean youth of unknown affiliation were seen in New Guinea, for the purposes of guerilla training. "We cannot rule out that MDC would like to defend its victory and how they want to defend it might vary with the opinion of its members," he said.
The new report was the result of a collaboration between the HSRC and the Nairobi-based Africa Policy Institute. It recommends that the mediation effort in Zimbabwe be strengthened by including other eminent persons.
However, it urges that the mediation be allowed to retain its African character while working to achieve an executive power-sharing arrangement with a definite time frame and monitoring tools.
The report also calls for the African Union to establish a continental election commission and an electoral court to tackle complex issues surrounding disputed elections.
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I think people of Zimbabwe and other SADC countries should avoid violence as a response to the repression unleashed by the Mugabe regime. The guy is very old and will die soon. Everybody should focus on what may happen after that. Once mugabe dies, his paper tiger "generals" will need to be replaced quickly otherwise the younger officers in the Zimbabwe army will revolt against the "generals". Zimbabwe's neighbours will then need to help Zimbabwe rebuild itself. in the life of a nation another few years is a short time. Let us hope that the tyrant dies soon and the "generals" are removed. After that the new government can invite all the talented sons and daughters of Zimbabwe to put their heads together and work hard and restore the nation to its greatness.
Uk/US wants war, it has taken ten years to effect regime change with no success and their only option is physical invasion to stop Mugabe from kicking western business out. The foreign policy of the west has not changed for centuries, Africa had been colonised while the UN body looked on and today it will still be the same if not much easy for they now have effective propaganda tabloids.
The great Western invasion of 2008.. yes that's going to be in the Zimbabwean history books... not. Civil war of 2008? More likely. When faced with a intransigent, overwhelmingly powerful, repressive government, what have brutalised people done time after time in history? They eventually start fighting back in whatever way they can. What may be stirring now amongst those who are anti-Mugabe, who have seen the lawful progress of the MDC attaining power blocked and frustrated at every turn by Zanu-PF, who are being attacked and victimised for their political stance, is exatly what stirred amongst the blacks in the 50's and 60's in Rhodesia and South Africa. The more brutality and control Mugabe tries to exert, the greater the risk of anything from a continuous insurgency to an all-out civil war erupting. Mugabe is still pushing the big red button of hate and fear with no regard to the consequences for his 'beloved' Zimbabwe. Tsvangerai can appeal for peace as much as he likes, but Mugabe is the one pushing the ordinary people beyond the point of no return and giving those willing to be violent an excuse to justify their revengeful actions.
onesoul. you have no idea. You've been smoking too much of something to be believing that the UK or US would bother to invade Zim. It really isnt that important.
It may be very noble to be peaceful for many other nations. For Zimbabwe this is the third stolen election because of the tooo peACEFUL NATURE OF ZIMBABWEANS. WQE nEED TO FIGHT . iF INDEED THERE IS ANY MILITARY TRAINING WHAT IS THE MOTIVE OF BUSINESSDAY WRITING ABOUT IT? sO IT CAN BE CRASHED BEFORE IT TAKES ROOT? WE ARE LONG OVERDUE FOR A MILLITARYY WING. Thabo Mbeki and other Afrcan leaders would take us more seriously if we had an army fighting. So far Mbeki is busy promoting Mugabe because he has an army and pretending there will be civil war because of sanctions. effectively balackmailing any mugabe pressure. We Need an army. Military training yes Zana
as zimbaweans the only way left is arms struggle . i think the's very mixed feelings on the international . they have proved they can't solve our nation by letting mugabe get away with all this mess . mdc should stop talking to them and take a hush step . even if mugabe dies today the army genersls are going to do the same and we will never lift our heads .'l always be their pets
Phiri, you seem to know all the wrongs of MDC and you comment on every article against MDC. Are you Zimbabwean by the way or you seem to be on duty. Good luck and i hope whatever the killings you comment on them. I am not Zanu or MDC but i cannot say murders are justified. Whoever gives you info hopefully is not brainwashing you like Greenbombers who have now been abandoned, because if you remember well every opposition leader in zimbabwe has once been charged with treason or training militants, so this is not new. maybe to you.
See all comments (17).
These rumors of military training by the MDC are not new and have surfaced a number of times in South African newspapers. Tsvangirai, has visited right-wing white racists Africans. It was widely reported in South African media, that he was flown to meet an extreme white Afrikana. If these allegations are true, then we ought to look at the violence also committed by the MDC. This is in part a response to the brutal repression of Mugabe's secret militia.
The MDC in aligning themselves with extreme military right wing in South Africa, automatically makes them the enemy of Southern Africa. The MDC is walking a fine line here and it could be exploited by the mugabe proganda machine.