Zanu-PF youths attack ZPP staff

Zimbabwe Peace Project has said following the violence that erupted over the last weekend On the 25 October, in Ward 23, Unit N Chitungwiza, Councillor Betty Dokora agreed to a meeting with Zimbabwe Peace Project Information Officer, Malvern Mkudu at her home to give her side of the story of the Chitungwiza violence in which MDC-T activists have been injured, displaced and have had homes and properties destroyed.

"Councillor Dokora agreed to the meeting on October 25. She had claimed on the phone that the violence was reciprocal and she also had scars to prove it. The ZPP team arrived at her home and the Information Officer Malvern Mkudu went in. Councillor Dokora was not at home but said that she was nearby. To our surprise, Dokora then arrived with a group of youths numbering to about 12. The youths proceeded to rough up Mkudu while others harassed Pascal Gonzo who was parked outside," said ZPP.

"The aggressive youths confiscated Mkudu's identity documents while Dokora sat and said nothing to restrain the youths. Mkudu was only saved from assault by five ununiformed men who claimed to be police officers who ordered the youths to hand back the identity particulars. Mkudu was driven to Makoni Police Station and Gonzo was ordered to follow behind. After taking Mkudu's personal details including his address and photographing his identity particulars, the 5 men released him."

The Zimbabwe Peace Project said it is a bona fide civil society organisation which carries out its mandate in good faith and within the confines of the law.

"Instead of arresting the aggressors who were clearly breaching the rights of ZPP staff to carry out their legal duties and who clearly had their right to personal security threatened by the rowdy youths, the police officers chose the easy way out of removing the ZPP staff from the scene. While ZPP Mkudu is personally grateful to the good Samaritans who save its stafferd him from a potential beating, the organisation ishe is disappointed on a point of principle that justice was not served. This insincere enforcement of the law only serves to cultivate the culture of impunity already imbedded in the Zanu PF youths to carry out more attacks," said ZPP.

"The failure by Councillor Dokora to restrain the youths who were said to be members of the Zanu PF security team led by one Lardy Manhango is testament to the involvement of political leaders in the political violence in Chitungwiza. Dokora has shown contempt and disdain to President Robert Mugabe's recent pleas for peace. If the party is sincere then ZPP expects it to call on the authorities and the respective Zanu PF to bring all the perpetrators including the Councillor to account for their actions. will be censored."

The ZPP called on political parties particularly the ruling Zanu PF party to censor its members who openly brag that they will not be held accountable for their violent activities.

"We also call on the police to act on the political leaders and their violent supporters without fear or favour. The constitution guarantees security of citizens especially to take steps to mitigate incidents of violence that are unfortunately on the rise. ZPP is a Non Governmental Organization that was founded in 2000 by a group of faith based and human rights NGOs working and interested in human rights and peace-building initiatives. ZPP has become a vehicle for civic interventions in times of political crises. In particular, ZPP seeks to monitor and document incidents of human rights violations and breaches of peace," said ZPP.