MDC-T warned over violence

Felex Share Harare Bureau
Sixteen more MDC-T supporters were arrested in Harare yesterday, as the opposition party escalated its orgy of violence in the capital by staging illegal demonstrations and blocking the smooth flow of traffic in a bid to cause anarchy.

This came as MDC-T leader Morgan Tsvangirai yesterday re-launched the party’s newsletter, The Real Change Times, a publication observers said was a propaganda tool meant to spread falsehoods and incite violence.

The government also came out guns blazing against the MDC-T yesterday, with Home Affairs Minister Ignatius Chombo saying while Zimbabwe is a democratic country no one should have freedom of association “that affects the rights of others.”

Speaking at a Press conference in Harare, Minister Chombo said the government was concerned with the level of political violence taking place in the country of late.

“The police can’t and will not tolerate any violent behaviour or misconduct as this disturbs the much needed peace and tranquillity,” he said. “In this regard, I wish to send a strong warning that we’ll deal with anyone who throws stones and missiles towards the police.

“I wish to remind the nation that Zimbabwe is a democratic country where individuals and groups have freedom of association, but not to the extent of affecting the rights of others. Such activities should and must be carried out within the confines of the law.”

The arrests of the MDC-T activists yesterday brought the number of those arrested and detained for violence in the last two days to 51.

Thirty five of the activists were arrested on Thursday as they destroyed people’s vehicles, shops’ window panes and stoned police officers out to maintain order.

Apart from the 51 youths arrested in the last two days, 16 more MDC-T youths were arrested a week ago in Harare South after convening an illegal gathering.

The planned violence that occurred yesterday came immediately after Tsvangirai re-launched the party’s newsletter.

Rowdy youths emerged from around Harvest House, the MDC-T headquarters along Nelson Mandela Avenue and held the illegal march towards Parliament Building.

They were thwarted by alert anti-riot police which realised that they were not only marching, but were stoning vehicles and shops in the process.

The police temporarily barricaded the intersection of Nelson Mandela Avenue and Sam Nujoma Street near Parliament.

There was commotion along Nelson Mandela Avenue as motorists made sudden U-turns in the one-way road to avoid the rowdy youths, while shop owners rushed to close doors to keep out the hoodlums who were threatening to loot.

Police had to clear Africa Unit Square gardens near Parliament of people who were walking aimlessly to avoid causing more confusion in the city centre.

Police chief spokesperson Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba confirmed the arrests yesterday, saying the force would not tire in its effort to maintain peace.

“Police have arrested 16 people who were conducting unlawful demonstrations in the city centre and blocking the smooth movement of traffic,” she said.

“Most of those arrested are women as their male counterparts disappeared into the crowds evading arrest. The law is clear and as long as they continue to have unlawful demonstrations and interfering with the smooth movement of traffic, police will not tire in its efforts to maintain law and order in the country.”

MDC-T spokesperson Obert Gutu confirmed it was the MDC-T activists who joined forces with some students to cause havoc.

It was ironic that while Gutu was confirming that it was the party’s members involved in the violence, Tsvangirai tried to blame Zanu-PF for illegal acts during the re-launch of his party’s shady publication.

“Zanu-PF try to out compete each other as to who has more violence than the other,” he said. “As long as they, together with the police, do not stop this violent act we’re not going to take part in any election.”

The newsletter ceased operation in 2010, a year after its launch, following the withdrawal of the funding by the United States embassy and other Western donors.

Interestingly, intra-party violence in the MDC-T led to the withdrawal of the funds by the donors.

Tsvangirai said the newsletter would tell “our own story” adding that it was an “indictment on the media industry in the country”

The public media, he claimed, only sided with the ruling party.