By Hendricks Chizhanje 

HARARE – The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party has warned that President Robert Mugabe’s dismissal of its claims about escalating violence against its members could undermine delicate talks between the opposition and the ruling ZANU PF party. 

Mugabe last weekend dismissed as unsubstantiated opposition claims of state-sponsored violence against its supporters and labelled MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai as being “amateurish” and “unacceptable”. 

But MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa yesterday accused Mugabe of undermining the spirit of ongoing talks between ZANU PF and the opposition by dismissing its concerns about escalating violence. 

“Mugabe is undermining the people’s confidence. It (Mugabe’s tirade) undermines the confidence of Zimbabweans in the dialogue process. People expect positive signals from the incumbent,” said Chamisa, who last March was a victim of a government crackdown on MDC leaders and civic activists. 

Chamisa said Mugabe was being economic with the truth by dismissing the opposition’s claims of violence. 

“Mugabe is either misinformed or is trying to be deliberately mischievous which is not going to aid and amplify confidence building. Our biggest problem in Zimbabwe is being in a denial mode,” Chamisa said. 

An opposition delegation last week met Home Affairs Minister Kembo Mohadi to substantiate claims of escalating targeted violence against the party’s supporters following pressure from some Southern African Development Community (SADC) leaders worried that the MDC could pull out of the talks. 

“We gave evidence (to Mohadi) in detailed form,” Chamisa said. 

Mohadi promised to probe the allegations of violence against opposition activists. 

Mohadi’s meeting with the MDC officials followed allegations made by the opposition party that the government had stepped up violence against its supporters ahead of next year’s presidential and parliamentary elections. 

Chamisa said the MDC was not expecting a response from the SADC secretariat after writing to them about escalating violence in the country. 

“Those issues (violence) are going to be addressed in the context of work currently in progress,” Chamisa said, referring to ongoing talks between the two parties. 

Negotiators from ZANU PF and the MDC were this week expected to resume talks in South Africa to end Zimbabwe’s long-running political crisis. 

The South African-mediated talks are being held under the aegis of SADC, which last March mandated President Thabo Mbeki to end the political stalemate between the Zimbabwean foes. - ZimOnline