No amnesty for political rape criminals

THOSE who commit politically motivated rape should not be granted amnesty, a local clergyman has said.

Addressing delegates at the Ideas Festival in Bulawayo today, Reverent Useni Sibanda said there should be no amnesty for those that commit politically motivated rape cases.

He added that politicians have a "bad habit" of preaching peace during the day and beating up people at night and or sending their functionaries to commit politically motivated rape cases, which they will later grant amnesty.

"There must be no amnesty for politically motivated rape offenders. Politicians must stop this bad habit of granting each other amnesty for such evil cases.

"During the day, they (politicians) preach peace and at night they send people to commit crimes," he said.

Rev Useni's sentiment come loud calls for peace by President Robert Mugabe. Calls which have been followed by violence by a Zanu PF Mbare - based terror gang called Chipangano.

Zanu PF has denied that it send its functionaries to commit crimes and has instead thrown the same allegations to the opposition Movement for Democratic Change formations.