Mugabe calls for an end to political violence in Zimbabwe.
"Your leadership in the inclusive government urges you to desist from any acts of violence that will cause harm to others and become a blight on our society” Mugabe told Zimbabweans gathered to observe Zimbabwe’s 30 years of independence.
What is this: a late bid by Mugabe to win the 2009 Nobel Peace Price! With the country bankrupt Mugabe has his beady eyes on the millions price money US President, Barak Obama got! One will have to be very naïve to believe that the aging Zimbabwean dictator is being sincere.
Unlike the political violence following the Kenya elections in December 2007, for example, where supporters from the two parties were involved in the violence. It is not clear who throw the first stone. In Zimbabwe it was Mugabe’s thugs who not only started all the beating and sustained it, there are very few cases of MDC supporters hitting back. Worse still in many cases when MDC reported the assaults to the Police, they ended up being the ones arrested “for disturbing the peace”! Indeed it was government security agencies, the Police, Army but mainly the CIO, who drove around in unmarked vehicles with no number plates who kidnapped and murdered MDC supporters. There are reports of Zanu PF thugs near Kwe Kwe, 200 km south of Harare, manning road blocks and turning back private vehicles and ambulances ferrying victims of the violence to the local hospital. The road block was a few hundred metres away from the local Police Station. The Police were well aware of this abomination but did not lift a finger to stop it.
All the violence and murders was planned and directed by Joint Operation Command which include the Police Commissioner, the heads of each branch of Army, the head of Prisons, CIO Chiefs and a select few senior government officials like the devious Emerson Mnangagwa and, of course, headed by Mugabe himself. The violence and mayhem was for one end and purpose to ensure Mugabe “win” the presidential run-off. The violence was so intense and widespread Tsvangirai, his challenger in the run-off, rightly accursed Mugabe of “declaring war on the people”. Tsvangirai was forced to withdraw from the race leaving the field clear for Mugabe to finish the one horse race.
Even after “winning” the presidential run-off Mugabe has maintained the pressure on MDC and his political critics; the violence has continued. Mugabe has kept the bases where the Zanu PF youth militia – the party’s foot soldiers in their war of terror and murder - operated from open and had many of youths added to the civil servant pay-role.
Mugabe has quashed calls to have those responsible for serious human rights violations including rape and murder arrested and punished. As far as he is concerned the violence was on both side of the political divide and the nation must now sweep it under the carpet and forget it ever happened. That is peace and reconciliation Mugabe style. He is the wrong doer and he is dictating the terms; how can that be a basis for lasting peace.
“Chinokangamwa esanhu, muti wakatemwa haukangamwi!” goes the Shona saying. It is easy for the axe to forget the damage it caused, the tree will never forget.
The only route for real and lasting peace and reconciliation is through forgiveness. It is hard to forgive when the wrong doer does not acknowledge the enormity of what they have done the suffering it caused. By pretending Zanu PF supporters suffered the same abuses; Mugabe is showing the same contemptuous arrogance as that shown by the Police Officers who arrested and even assaulted MDC victims who had gone to the Police seeking justice and/or protection! How can than be a basis for justice, peace and reconciliation.
Politically motivated violence has always been an integral part of Zimbabwean politics even before independence. Ian Smith used violence, the Police and State institutions to silence the black majority and after independence Mugabe too has used the same laws and institution to silence his political opponents. Both Smith and Mugabe saw to it that those responsible for all these serious human rights violation where never arrested and punished establishing a culture of impunity for their thugs and henchmen.
The only way to ensure there is no politically motivated violence ever again is by ending this culture of impunity. Arresting all these responsible for past human rights violation will send a clear message that no one is above the law.
Mr Mugabe you call for an end to violence in 2010 will not save you from answering some very hard questions for you commanding role in the violence in Matebeleland and the Midlands in the mid 1980s – over 20 000 innocent civilians were murdered by the Fifth Brigade – the terror and murders during the 2008 presidential run-off, etc.
Mr Mugabe, you are a ruthless dictator, you are used to being the judge, the jury and the executioner in Zimbabwe and no one dared say a word. So now you want to dictate how we, your victims, to view you as a man of peace. What a pompous, arrogant brute! The day the presidential chain of office – for which you murdered so many innocent Zimbabweans to retain - round your neck is taken off you Mr Mugabe, you will have the hang-man’s noose!
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