Former CIO arrested for revealing 2008 Elections violence - Damocles sword over nation's head!

Obediah Dodo, a former CIO but now lecturer at Bindura University and one of his student has been arrested and is being tortured for writing report titled: “Political Intolerance, Diversity and Democracy: Youths Violence in Bindura Urban Zimbabwe.”  The report revealed details of many cases of political violence during the orgy of violence in the period April to June 2008. Many of the cases were not recorded by the Police because they had been instructed to ignore them and, of course, not to arrest those responsible for the violence. not to went unreported because police had been disempowered.

The report also said the Police, Army, CIO and Prison Guards played a key role in inciting the violence.

Dodo was arrested and is reportedly being tortured by the Mugabe and Zanu PF controlled security sector who clearly do not want the truth of the country’s culture of violence exposed. No doubt the Junta is trying to send a message to would-be whistleblowers of its barbarism, particularly now as it is beyond doubt that the violence of 2008 will be repeated if Mugabe and Zanu PF’s struggle hold on power is threatened.

For four years Prime Minister Tsvangirai has failed to push through security sector reforms; it is inconceivable to see how the culture of violence can end without these reforms. Instead of admitting he has made a big mistake he is now pretending the nation can still go ahead and hold another election with violence hanging over the nation’s head like the Sword of Damocles.  

Tsvangirai can afford to ignore the problem of political violence, as long as he gets elected and is back on the gravy train; he does not care how many more Zimbabweans are killed or the cost of yet another five years a dysfunctional Unity Government or worse still a Zanu PF dictatorship.  Zimbabwe's economic recovery from the hell-hole the nation now finds itself is totally dependent on the restoration of law and order and rule of law and which, in turn is totally dependent on the ending of the scourge of violence and the holding of free and fair elections! It will be suicidal for Zimbabweans to accept the holding of fresh elections without cast iron guarantees there will be no violence.

By voting NO to the Copac draft Zimbabweans will send a clear message to both Tsvangirai and Mugabe that the culture of violence must end.