Zanu PF's institutionalised violence is terrorism

There is no doubt now in the minds of all self respecting and loyal Zimbabweans that this Zanu PF organised and sponsored violence which has been taking place in this country since independence in general and the violence that took place over the weekend in Parliament of Zimbabwe specifically make Zanu PF fall within the definition of a terrorist organisation that should be immediately and decisively dealt with by the progressive world institutions like SADC and the United Nations to stop this deplorable act against fellow peace loving citizens.

His Excellency E. Mr Ismael A. Gasper Martins, Permanent Representative of the Republic of Angola to the United Nations on the 3rd of October 2001 contributing to the debate on the Measures to eliminate international terrorism said that "Terrorism is a scourge that affects all of us as it threatens the very way of life we have come to cherish. It challenges the economic and political institutions we have erected. It undermines the principles of interaction among states. It negates due process. And worst of all, it fails to adhere to internationally accepted standards for conflict resolution." My dictionary which for the avoidance of doubt is certainly not the Wikipedia defines terrorism as the use of violence and threats to intimidate or coerce, especially for political purposes. The writer also wants to point that this is not a colonial or a Rhodesian government definition.

Apart from this being another confirmation that the country is not ready for elections, it is indeed a sad development in our dream of democratising our beloved country. It is evident now that these elections calls are from the unpopular enemies of the people who will not survive a free and fair democratic election. These are the same faces that for the past three decades have been plundering our beloved country and apportioning it to themselves.

With this current state of our politics where the disciples of the fifth brigade can go around intimidating, assaulting anyone that doesn't agree with their party is evidence enough that the elections in this country will need to be monitored by the international monitors whether from the SADC or the United National because honestly who can guarantee that those that are opposed to the Zanu PF party will not either be in exile, jail or with broken arms and limbs. If anyone doubts that ask our fellow journalists and fellow Members of Parliament that sit on the portfolio committee that conducts a hearing on the Human Rights Bill who had to run for cover when the angels of death were dishing out what they know best.

Parliament is the second arm of the state, it is the legislative authority of the state, the house where laws are made, this honourable house is now turned into a house of torture by the Zanu Pf youths, and the Members of Parliament are thrown out. These ZANU Pf youths in their feeble minds think that by blocking the public hearing on the Human Rights Bill they will delay will shield those fugitives in their midst from justice, this is an exercise in futility as the facts on the ground continue to show that justice awaits not only the perpetrators of year 200 violence but also the Gukurahundi times and for the latter the gallows get sharper everyday as the hell gets hotter too.

This barbaric act is contempt of highest order, in a democracy it is unimaginable that the arm of state can be so much undermined in the presence of the police and nobody is arrested, surely something is not right. What efforts did the Parliament security staff put in place to make sure that the perpetrators of this disorder are brought to book.

Because the opposition parties combined in the lower house at least have the majority, it would be amiss if this issue is not debated, The Police Commissioner-General Augustine Chihuri must be brought to account over the dereliction of duty of his subordinates. In all truth the police know the police details that were deployed to parliament to preserve peace but were seen watching as if everything was normal. It is curious that even the military headquarters which are housed just opposite parliament failed to be of any help. The writer will be forgiven to believe that it is no longer a truth that the national security of this country is not at risk, if some youths can just get into parliament and assault everybody willy-nilly and nothing happens to them.

Parliament must sit as a court urgently and search for these culprits we wait for justice, the nation can't allow these sycophants to hold us at ransom surely we expect our Members of Parliament to conduct their business in a conducive environment without fear of intimidation or whatsoever. It is embarrassing to even imagine that we can have a parliament that can be invaded by some malcontents in society that are bought by few bottles of cheap brandy to unleash violence on the progressive institutions of our land, the same institutions that should protect us, that make the laws that govern us, where the future of the nation is debated, but now turned into an object of ridicule just for political expediency.

Gifford Mehuli Sibanda is the Information Officer of the MDC led by Prof Welshman Ncube and writes in his personal capacity.