MDC-T UK and Ireland Provincial Youth condemns violence upsurge

 The MDC-T youth in the United Kingdom and Ireland have issued a joint statement joining the civil society in Zimbabwe in calling for the government to respect people's rights and engage in peaceful political activities in the country.

The youth also condemned the upsurge in political violence currently rocking the country where in a number of incidents Zanu PF supporters have clashed with the MDC-T members while the latest is a breakout out of violence between the police and the MDC-T supporters in Harare last week.

"We condemn in strongest terms the recent wave of violence by Zanu PF towards the MDC and other voices of opposition in Zimbabwe," Fungayi Mukosera MDC-T Provincial Youth Information and Publicity Secretary in a statement.

"The rights to expression, assembly and association are fundamental if our country's leadership is committed to the full attainment and future growth of democracy in Zimbabwe. We refute strongly the continuous imposition of a democratic narrative in our country where the only voice that is tolerated by the leadership in power is that which praises evil and dissenting voices are met with violence."

The youth said it is every citizen's political right to have full access to all political opinions and be free to express themselves whether in public or in a vote without impediments to those freedoms.

"Some of the Zanu PF leadership have recently been declaring other provinces in the country as one party state provinces and declaring violent hostility against opposition political activities. Unfortunately we have already started witnessing a forecast glimpse of another illegitimate grab of power in the forthcoming elections," said Mukosera.

"The wish for Zimbabweans to live in a free country where they can work and provide for their families in peace is unfortunately being met with open hostility. This is because the regime led by president Mugabe is only interested in power but the capability and will to work for the people are alien to them."

"We also urge the Zimbabwe Republic Police to uphold its constitutional mandate of maintaining peace and order without prejudice. We have noticed with dismay the tag-teaming of the police force with Zanu PF thugs especially recently in Harare South," he said.

The MDC-T youth stated that a  police force dedicated to all citizens should and should be seen to stand for peace and not to execute its duties along partisan lines.

"We are sending a united voice to the government in Zimbabwe that our rights to choose and belong are non-negotiable; violence and abusing state security agents to secure positions in offices of power never amounts to democracy," Mukosera said.