Opinion / Columnist
ZPF admit ZRP 'never act' to end violence - the democratic challenge is to force them to act
03 Apr 2016 at 07:21hrs | Views
"Our focus is on the economy which is in such a bad shape. And indeed, we cannot wait for 2018 with things going this bad. We have said it time and again that we want to create a peaceful, democratic and stable nation where people can live well, decide their own future and find space to express themselves," said Rugare Gumbo.
The Zimbabwe economy is in very bad "shape" that is true but that did not happen in the last year but has been a long protracted process that started soon after Zimbabwe attained her independence in 1980. You Mr Gumbo and your fellow ZPF members were key players in the Zanu PF regimes for the 34 years of the 36 years! Why did you do nothing all these years to stop the economic rot?
Surely, if you knew what to do to stop the economic rot; you did not need to wait until you were finally forcefully removed from Zanu PF to stop the rot and save the nation!
For 34 years Mr Gumbo, you and your ZPF have played your full part in the creation of this corrupt and murderous de facto one-party Zanu PF dictatorship. Ever since the time you were kicked out of Zanu PF, in December 2014, you have done nothing to "create a peaceful, democratic and stable nation where people can live well, decide their own future and find space to express themselves," other than talk and make empty promises.
You have said ZPF will "implement electoral reforms" but have failed to say what these reforms are and, more significantly, how these said reforms will stop Zanu PF rigging the elections and it's culture of political violence, for example.
According to Zimbabwe Peace Project the cases of harassment and beating have gone up from 346 in January 2016 to 441 in February and over 60% of these crimes were committed by Zanu PF thugs and operative on MDC-T or ZPF supporters. As the nation moves toward the 2018 elections, there is no doubt the violence will escalate, the number of cases will go up and the degree of violence will be more brutal. Unless something is done to stop the wanton violence many innocent people will lose their limps and even their very lives!
ZPF does not have a plan on how to stop the vote rigging and wanton violence!
ZPF leaders played their part in creating this culture of vote rigging and wanton violence when they were Zanu PF members because they did not care about peace and the rights and freedoms of the ordinary people. All they wanted was to retain absolute power at all cost.
"Although we know the perpetrators by name, no one has been arrested in all the cases, so we don't take any solace from the police because they have never acted. I also don't see them doing so now and that is what is giving these guys the guts to continue harassing us," said Farai Kuveya. She was commenting of case of a ZPF supporter who was attached by Zanu PF thugs and needed hospital treatment.
What comfort will that bring to the nation?
Ever since December 2014 when ZPF members were kicked out of Zanu PF all they really care about is how to get back into power and they are promising people peace, freedom, economic recovery, etc. to win their trust and votes but will never keep any of these promises. People like Rugare Gumbo's failure to stop the worsening cases of political violence proves they still do not care about peace and the rights of povo including the right to free and fair elections and even the right to life!
There is no doubt that ZPF are only talking about peace, having the freedom, the party does not care how many people.
The Zimbabwe economy is in very bad "shape" that is true but that did not happen in the last year but has been a long protracted process that started soon after Zimbabwe attained her independence in 1980. You Mr Gumbo and your fellow ZPF members were key players in the Zanu PF regimes for the 34 years of the 36 years! Why did you do nothing all these years to stop the economic rot?
Surely, if you knew what to do to stop the economic rot; you did not need to wait until you were finally forcefully removed from Zanu PF to stop the rot and save the nation!
For 34 years Mr Gumbo, you and your ZPF have played your full part in the creation of this corrupt and murderous de facto one-party Zanu PF dictatorship. Ever since the time you were kicked out of Zanu PF, in December 2014, you have done nothing to "create a peaceful, democratic and stable nation where people can live well, decide their own future and find space to express themselves," other than talk and make empty promises.
You have said ZPF will "implement electoral reforms" but have failed to say what these reforms are and, more significantly, how these said reforms will stop Zanu PF rigging the elections and it's culture of political violence, for example.
According to Zimbabwe Peace Project the cases of harassment and beating have gone up from 346 in January 2016 to 441 in February and over 60% of these crimes were committed by Zanu PF thugs and operative on MDC-T or ZPF supporters. As the nation moves toward the 2018 elections, there is no doubt the violence will escalate, the number of cases will go up and the degree of violence will be more brutal. Unless something is done to stop the wanton violence many innocent people will lose their limps and even their very lives!
ZPF does not have a plan on how to stop the vote rigging and wanton violence!
ZPF leaders played their part in creating this culture of vote rigging and wanton violence when they were Zanu PF members because they did not care about peace and the rights and freedoms of the ordinary people. All they wanted was to retain absolute power at all cost.
"Although we know the perpetrators by name, no one has been arrested in all the cases, so we don't take any solace from the police because they have never acted. I also don't see them doing so now and that is what is giving these guys the guts to continue harassing us," said Farai Kuveya. She was commenting of case of a ZPF supporter who was attached by Zanu PF thugs and needed hospital treatment.
What comfort will that bring to the nation?
Ever since December 2014 when ZPF members were kicked out of Zanu PF all they really care about is how to get back into power and they are promising people peace, freedom, economic recovery, etc. to win their trust and votes but will never keep any of these promises. People like Rugare Gumbo's failure to stop the worsening cases of political violence proves they still do not care about peace and the rights of povo including the right to free and fair elections and even the right to life!
There is no doubt that ZPF are only talking about peace, having the freedom, the party does not care how many people.
Source - Wilbert Mukori
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