KEMBO Mohadi . . . admitted political violence on the rise

By Rugare Munodawafa

HARARE – Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi on Wednesday acknowledged that opposition supporters were being victimised and admitted this could jeopardize on-going dialogue between the ruling ZANU PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party. 

Sources told ZimOnline that Mohadi told senior MDC officials he met Wednesday morning at his offices to personally report to him acts of violence against members of the opposition party. 

“He (Mohadi) also undertook to study a dossier prepared by the MDC detailing all acts of violence against its supporters that took place after March,” said a government official who attended the meeting between Mohadi and the opposition officials. 

According to our source, MDC home affairs secretary Sam Sipepa immediately impressed upon Mohadi that to test the government’s sincerity, the opposition party would seek permission to hold a public demonstration. 

The police, who under state security laws must sanction all public demonstrations, have in the past banned the MDC from holding demonstrations although ZANU PF supporters are regularly allowed to march in the streets in support of President Robert Mugabe. 

Mohadi, who could not be reached for comment on the matter, reportedly promised to look into a request by the MDC to hold demonstrations. 

The meeting between Mohadi and MDC officials was held following the minister’s request to MDC president Morgan Tsvangirai that he wanted the opposition to corroborate statements that politically motivated violence was on the increase despite the South African brokered talks between the opposition party and ZANU PF. 

At a press conference soon after the meeting, Nkomo said they had impressed upon Mohadi that dialogue could only proceed well if ZANU PF desisted from acts of violence on the ground. 

“We told him it would be difficult for us to talk if we have a gag on our mouth and a gun barrel on our back,” he said. “We also suggested to him that he should make a public statement against violence and urging the police to be non-partisan in their application of the law. 

Nkomo said apart from comprehensive dossier of violence, his delegation had also raised with Mohadi reports received by the opposition party suggesting that the government had ordered more teargas for use against the opposition in the run-up to the election. 

The MDC officials also told Mohadi the police continued to treat the opposition party like an illegal movement despite it being a registered political party with legislators in Parliament and councilors throughout the country. 

ZimOnline understands that in the dossier submitted to Mohadi, the MDC claimed that 4 122 incidents of political violence and human rights abuses were recorded between January and June 2007. 

These included seven murders, 18 rapes, 459 cases of torture, 34 cases of discrimination in food aid, 69 abductions, 2 323 cases of intimidation, 1 141 cases of assault and 152 cases of unlawful detentions. 

The opposition officials also raised the issue of Joseph Mwale, a state secret agent who allegedly murdered two MDC activists in 2000 but is yet to face justice and remains employed by the government. 

“Mohadi and his officials kept on jotting down notes and promised to look into the issues raised by the MDC delegation but it is not clear what, if any action, will be taken,” the source said. - ZimOnline