Violence Against MDC continues as Talks Underway

Peta Thornycroft reports today from Harare for the Voice of America that although the MOU for the talks specifically indicated there would be a cessation to the violence during the talks, this has not been the case.

Thornycroft writes:

"Meanwhile, the political violence that has plagued Zimbabwe continues. The violence began after President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF was beaten by Morgan Tsvangirai's MDC in March 29 elections.

Violence escalated until Mr. Tsvangirai withdrew from a June 27 presidential run-off in which Mr. Mugabe later claimed victory. International observers say the run-off was neither free nor fair.

Human rights monitors say the violence has diminished somewhat, but since the parties agreed to talks a week ago three people, all known MDC supporters, have been killed.

In other incidents, a Zimbabwean freelance journalist was savagely beaten in his Harare home. He was later allegedly accused by police of bringing Zimbabwe's name into disrepute.

And, political scientist John Makumbe was questioned by police last week. He was accused of fabricating cases of political violence, according to the state press.

In at least three Zimbabwe districts there is still political tension and many people who fled their homes say they are still too frightened to return home.

In Buhera, in the Manicaland Province, human rights monitors say there are 25 paramilitary bases controlled by ZANU-PF youth that are still operational. In other districts, bases continue to be dismantled, but in many cases ZANU-PF personnel who worked there are still in the districts. Many people say they are fearful of them.

There are curfews in place in the northern parts of Mashonaland East province, in parts of Manicaland and Mashonaland Central, according to human rights monitors who have traveled around those districts in the past 10 days. "

The MOU stated under section 10.1. "Security of persons"

(a) Each Party will issue a statement condemning the promotion and use of violence and call for peace in the country and shall take all measures necessary to ensure that the structures and institutions it controls are not engaged in the perpetration of violence.

(b) The Parties are committed to ensuring that the law is applied fairly and justly to all persons irrespective of political affiliation.

(c) The Parties will take all necessary measures to eliminate all forms of political violence, including by non-state actors, and ensure the security of persons and property.

(d) The Parties agree that, in the interim, they will work to ensure the safety of any displaced persons and their safe return home and that humanitarian and social welfare organizations are enabled to render such assistance as might be required.

10.2. Hate speech

The Parties shall refrain from using abusive language that may incite hostility political intolerance and ethnic hatred or undermine each other."


The full text of the MOU is available at Relief Web.