12 July 2008
THE ruling Zanu PF party continues with a covert plan, hatched by the Joint Operations Command (JOC) soon after the March elections, to completely decimate the MDC structures despite winning the June presidential poll run-off, the opposition party has said.
The plan allegedly involves the elimination of key MDC members, destroying the party's structures as well as their businesses to completely cripple the only opposition party that has shaken President Robert Mugabe's uninterrupted 28-year-old rule.
But some political analysts said the sustained attack on the MDC was a plot to force MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai, who has refused to talk to Mugabe, to the negotiating table.
Others, however, believe that the 84-year-old Mugabe has lost control of the youth militia and war veterans, who secured his "victory" through a violent campaign.
MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa said the sustained attack on party activists was an attempt by Mugabe's administration to completely cripple the party and thereby
remove future internal opposition in the country.
"This is a deliberate plan to decimate our structures," Chamisa said. "This is shows that Mugabe is not sincere when calling for negotiations."
Zanu PF election spokesperson Patrick Chinamasa could not be reached for comment as he was said to be in South Africa for the Zanu PF/MDC talks. But he is on record blaming the MDC for the violence.
Even Mugabe has accused the MDC of causing the on-going violence, warning Tsvangirai and other party officials that his government would hold them responsible for the orgy of violence.
"These cases of arson, kidnappings and violence on people coming from the MDC have shown a definite pattern which we read across the country," Mugabe said.
The MDC said it remained committed to a peaceful, negotiated solution to the Zimbabwean crisis but a catalogue of acts of bad faith by Zanu PF continue to poison the environment for negotiations.
The party cited the continued murders, beatings and displacement of MDC leaders and supporters. It also said there was continued persecution of MDC MPs and disappearance of party activists.
The party's secretary-general Tendai Biti, a key member in the negotiations, is facing treason charges, but the MDC says these are trumped up.
It is estimated that more than half of the MDC councillors in Harare elected in March are in hiding fearing for their lives. Some of them were living in "safe houses" in the city after being hounded out of their homes.
The MDC last week said at least 20 of its supporters had been killed while 5 000 had gone missing since the June 27 presidential election run-off, in which Mugabe was the sole candidate following Tsvangirai's withdrawal citing excessive political violence.
According to the MDC at least 109 of its supporters have been murdered while more than 20 000 have been displaced since the March 29 election in which Tsvangirai defeated Mugabe but without enough votes to claim the presidency.
Statistics indicate that 4 293 MDC supporters have been tortured or assaulted by suspected Zanu PF loyalists countrywide between March 1 and June 15 this year.
Only last week, the body of missing MDC driver for Mashonaland West Joshua Bakacheza was discovered at a farm in Beatrice in a decomposing state after he was allegedly abducted by State security agents.
Bakacheza was abducted two days before the June 27 elections together with another MDC activist Tendai Chidziwo while helping murdered party official Tonderai Ndira's wife to move her property from Mabvuku to a safe haven.
Properties of MDC officials have not been spared.
Last week, suspected Zanu PF militia petrol-bombed a factory belonging to MDC MP for Kambuzuma Willas Madzimure in Chitungwiza.
Madzimure said the furniture-making factory valued at US$120 000 including a Nissan pick-up truck were destroyed.
A truck belonging to the ruling party, claimed Madzimure, was seen driving off soon after the factory caught fire.
In June, a grocery shop belonging to MDC House of Assembly candidate for Gokwe Central, Linnet Ganyani was also petrol-bombed, again by suspected Zanu PF loyalists, leaving her without a source of livelihood. A US$22 000- truck belonging to Gutu businessman Beria Musimudziwa was torched at Bhasera growth point, forcing the MDC activist to go into hiding.
Madzimure said: "This is a vicious attempt by Mugabe to break the moral and financial fabric of MDC by targeting the drivers of the party in all the areas, countrywide."
MDC records show that the MPs who have been arrested since the March 29 elections include Tendai Biti, the party's secretary-general and MP-elect for Harare East, Misheck Shoko, MP-elect for Chitungwiza South who was arrested in Mberengwa for campaigning for the MDC during the run-off period, Trevor Saruwaka, MP-elect for Mutasa Central who was arrested on political violence charges, MP-elect for Mutare West Pishai Muchauraya, and Shuwa Mudiwa, who was arrested on charges of kidnapping a 13-year-old.
MP-elect for Mkoba Amos Chibaya was arrested on allegations of inciting the police to revolt against the government during a rally, Heya Shoko, MP-elect for Bikita West, Ian Kay MP-elect for Marondera Central and senator-elect for Kariba John Masaba were all arrested on charges of inciting political violence.
The MDC said those in hiding included Naison Nemadziwa, MP-elect for Buhera South, who was abducted last week and later found at a police station and released on $100 billion bail after police charged him with inciting violence in his constituency, Pearson Mungofa, MP-elect for Highfield East who is wanted for causing discontent among security officers, Edmore Marima, MP-elect for Bikita East who is wanted for inciting political violence and attempted murder, Shepherd Mushonga, MP-elect for Mazowe Central, and Broadwin Nyaude, MP- elect for Bindura South who are wanted for inciting political violence.
Eric Matinenga, MP-elect for Buhera West, was earlier arrested on charges of political violence, while Elton Mangoma, MP-elect for Makoni North, and Pineal Denga, MP-elect for Mbare are wanted for allegedly inciting political violence.
Candidate MPs Godfrey Chimombe from Shamva North and Biggie Haurovi from Hurungwe East who lost in the parliamentary elections were arrested on charges of inciting political violence.
The MDC fears that parliament might be sworn in with some of the MPs still in hiding.
The MDC said in Mashonaland Central 145 of their supporters were in prison or police custody while Masvingo has 356, Midlands North has 57, Mashonaland West 114 and 476 in Manicaland.
In Harare the MDC said 31 of its supporters were arrested while Matabeleland South had 63, Matabeleland North 59, Mashonaland East 184, Chitungwiza 11, the Midlands South 69 and Bulawayo nine.
University of Zimbabwe political science lecturer Eldred Masunungure said the attack on MDC activists and their properties by suspected Zanu PF supporters was an attempt to pressure the opposition party to the negotiating table.
"If you look at the violence, it is no longer targeted at the general public as it was prior to the 27 June election but at key MDC activists. It an attempt to force them to the negotiating table," Masunungure said.
He said soon after the March election, the violence was directed at the general public in order to force them to vote for Mugabe. But now the violence was targeting key MDC officials.
Masunungure said in order to solve the political crisis in Zimbabwe, there was no alternative to talks.
By Caiphas Chimhete
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