The Military’s toxic role during the 2008 Elections This week, we continue with publishing to punish those who voted for the Move- edited excerpts from a report published ment for Democratic Change (MDC), par- by the Crisis in Coalition titled ticularly in areas perceived to be tradition- The Military Factor in Zimbabwe’s Polit- al ZANU-PF strongholds of Masvingo, ical and Electoral Affairs. Below is Chap- Mashonaland, and Manicaland provinces. ter 4 of the report. Please also see accom- One victim, quoted in the report described panying story at the bottom of the page. armed soldiers going from house to house in the township of Chitungwiza searching lthough the role of the mili- for MDC supporters and beating them: tary was covert and subdued “I did not know my assailants, but in the lead up to the March they were in army uniform and drove 2008 elections, it became de- an army truck. They were boasting cisiveA and toxic during the presidential of being given a three-day assign- runoff election campaign period between ment to ‘bring hell’ to the people.” April and June 27. The military had overt- THE PRESIDENT’S MEN: President (right) is pictured here with Army Chief, Gen- $UP\ RIÀFHUV KDYH EHHQ SHUVRQ- eral Constantine Chiwenga (centre) and Intelligence boss, Happyton Bonyongwe.-dailymail.co.uk ly taken over and had become the arbiter ally involved in a number of ‘re-educa- of Zimbabwe’s fate during this period. tion’ meetings at which local residents ÀHGDSHDFHIXOHOHFWLRQFHQWHUHGSURFHVV (HRW), also implicated the military in In early June 2008 MDC leader Morgan are forced to renounce opposition and of transition away from authoritarianism widespread electoral abuses. In a report, Tsvangirai noted that the country had swear allegiance to the ruling party af- and towards democracy was interrupted.” HRW stated that the scale of military attacks witnessed a de facto coup d’etatand was ter being beaten and tortured. The Army Between April and the June 27 run- exceeds anything seen previously during now effectively run by a military junta. however continues to deny any involve- off election, the security forces took a Zimbabwe’s long history of electoral vio- In an attempt by the military to re- ment in the violence and speaking on central role in violently campaigning for lence. Soldiers carried out scores of attacks verse Mugabe’s defeat by Tsvangirai in this Army deputy public relations of- the ZANU-PF candidate, Robert Mugabe. in Harare and surrounding townships. WKH ÀUVW URXQG RI SUHVLGHQWLDO HOHFWLRQV ÀFHU 0DMRU $OSKLRV0DNRWRUH VDLG During this period soldiers were deployed The military takeover has meant an explo- the military effectively overthrew the “The (ZNA) in all the ten provinces across the coun- sion in the level of violence in Zimbabwe. electoral process and unleashed violence wishes to raise concerns over articles be- try with the aim to ensure that ZANU-PF Names of top military commanders ac- and intimidation on a wide scale. The ing published in the print and the elec- wins the presidential election at all costs. cused of masterminding the ruthless cam- military emerged at this time as the bed- tronic media on allegations relating to A report by the Zimbabwe Human paign to keep President Robert Mugabe rock and political commissar of ZANU- the alleged political violence, assaults, Rights NGO Forum indicates orga- in power include Air Vice Marshal Henry PF. Following a defeat at the polls by the harassment and robberies perpetrated nized violence and torture increased Muchena, Air Commodore Michael Kara- MDC in March 2008, ZANU-PF’s evalu- by men in army uniforms … the army in association with the various parlia- kadzai, Air Vice Marshal Abu Basutu, ation noted the obvious, that the party categorically distances itself and any mentary by-elections that took place. Major General EngelbertRugeje, Retired structures were virtually non-existent of its members from such activities.” However, there was an absolute Major General Gibson Mashingaidze and and lacked capacity to mount an effective The military’s meddling in politi- increase in organized violence and tor- Brigadier General Douglas Nyikayaramba. campaign, hence the strategy to turn to cal and civilian affairs has been strongest ture from the middle of the year 2008 According to the HRW report, wit- the military for a campaign of coercion. in Mashonaland East, where soldiers at as the campaign for the Presidential QHVVHV LQWHUYLHZHG LGHQWLÀHG QXPHURXV Political scientist Eldred Masunungure Joko Army Barracks have taken army election gained momentum up to pres- VHQLRU PLOLWDU\ RIÀFHUV DV EHLQJ GLUHFWO\ noted on the runoff campaign period: drills to villages. In Manicaland prov- ent day. As the violence generally in- involved in the violence. The report fur- “The April to June 2008 interregnum was ince traditional chiefs were summoned creases, so does the number of cases ther claimed that documents leaked by a militarized moment. A ZANU-PF that to an “indoctrination workshop” where in which members of the army are im- GLVJUXQWOHG DUP\ RIÀFHUV QDPHG  RI had been de-stooled as the ruling party the Brigadier-General Douglas Nyika- plicated as the primary perpetrators. them, each assigned an area to oversee in in Parliament was not prepared to be dis- yaramba told them to support ZANU Investigations by international human Operation Makavhoterapapi? or Operation lodged from State House… In the process, PF or be deposed from their positions. rights watchdog, Human Rights Watch Where Did You Put Your Vote?, a campaign the winds of democratic change were de- The face of Zimbabwe’s military brass s Robert Mugabe’s the late Vitalis Zvinavashe, Chi- ers. Since the formation of the death for opposition opponents. when he took over from the late health reportedly dete- wenga echoed the unwritten law unity government, police have Human Rights Watch has re- Josiah Tungamirai. He is nick- Ariorates and renewed among the military chiefs that arrested many MDC ministers. peatedly condemned the squalid named “Black Jesus” because of LQÀJKWLQJ JULSV =DQX3)·V WZR they “would never salute anyone Popular opinion in the living conditions in the prisons the power he wields in deciding factions, Zimbabwe’s military without liberation credentials”. country is that Chihuri was also but reform is yet to take place. whether an individual lives or openly declared its support Chiwenga is the chair- the mastermind of the controver- dies. As the commander of the for the 87-year-old president. person of the Joint Operations sial Operation Murambatsvina Douglas Nyikayaramba: Brig- North Korean-trained Fifth Bri- As a result, the unity gov- Command, a body that includes in 2005, which sought to de- adier general, Zimbabwe De- gade army in the 1980s, Shiri ernment has been rattled. Alli- Zimbabwe’s military, police and stabilise the MDC’s growing fence Forces was linked to the Gukurahundi DQFHVLQ=DQX3)KDYHVKLIWHGDW intelligence services, but it’s per- urban support base under the The brash and outspoken Nyi- massacres in which an estimat- the likelihood of a military coup ceived bias in favour of Zanu-PF pretext of building new houses kayaramba has not hidden his ed 20 000 people were killed. d’état and, with elections loom- has led the opposition Move- for the homeless. But the police dislike of either the MDC or At the height of Zanu- ing, it has increasingly become ment for Democratic Change commissioner’s bias towards Morgan Tsvangirai. As head PF’s land seizures in 2000, he evident that the military leaders 0'&  WR ODEHO LW D ´PDÀDµ Zanu-PF has served to solidify of Mugabe’s election team in is believed to have orchestrated will not be sidelined. Zimba- &KLZHQJD·VLQÁXHQFHLQ=LPED- Mugabe’s grip on power, because 2002 and blamed for rolling out the invasion of several white bwe’s next ruler might have to bwe’s politics cannot be underes- the police brutality has been a Mugabe’s 2008 re-election cam- farms. He is also an alleged court it for survival. The Mail & timated. Calls for him to remove day-to-day reminder to citizens paign, the brigadier has become EHQHÀFLDU\ RI WKH DLUOLIWLQJ RI *XDUGLDQORRNVDWWKHÀYHSRZHU his uniform to become a politi- of who is really in charge and a barometer of the temperature diamonds in the Democratic brokers in Zimbabwe’s military. cian by Prime Minister Morgan calls the shots in government. within the military camp. Politi- Republic of Congo during the Tsvangirai may prove less en- cal analyst Eldred Masunungure  FRQÁLFW ,W LV ZLGHO\ EH- Constantine Chiwenga: Army ticing, because as army com- Paradzai Zimondi: Command- described him as “an indicator of lieved that the country’s most commander, Zimbabwe De- mander he has a vantage point er, Zimbabwe Prisons Service the desperation within Zanu-PF”. GHFRUDWHG ZLQJ PDQ FDQQRW Á\ fence Forces that makes even the MDC wary. It is no coincidence that Zim- Nyikayaramba recently revealed Shiri’s close family ties Nicknamed “Zim 2” because babwe’s prisons are “hell on that Mugabe would win the up- to Mugabe, his involvement of his ranking after Mugabe, Augustine Chihuri: Commis- Earth”, according to the MDC’s coming elections, described in the Joint Operations Com- Chiwenga (56) is the latest in sioner general, Zimbabwe Re- , who was arrested Tsvangirai as a “national securi- mand and his place on the Eu- a long list of loyalists touted to public Police on treason charges. After all, it is ty threat” and scoffed at sugges- ropean Union sanctions list succeed the president and hope- In the past decade, Chihuri the perfect place to throw dissent- tions that Mugabe should be re- make it most likely that he will fully neutralise Zanu-PF’s tense has effectively turned the po- ers after the police arrest them. placed and a successor appointed. seek to maintain the status quo. succession race. Chiwenga lice into a military wing of Shortages of food and medical had previously kept a low pro- Zanu-PF. Its partisan stance healthcare, coupled with deplor- Perence Shiri: Air marshal, ÀOH EXW HPHUJHG WR EXOOGR]H has included launching violent able living conditions, have made Zimbabwe Air Force - From the Mail & Guardian Mugabe into electoral victory crackdowns against opposition the country’s prisons a horror. Shiri (56) is Mugabe’s cousin Online: http://mg.co.za/article/2011- in the violent 2008 presidential ÀJXUHV EHDWLQJ 0'& DFWLY- In Zimondi’s grip, the pris- and has been the country’s air 07-01-the-face-of-zimbabwes-mili- tary-brass/ elections. Like his predecessor, ists, journalists and civic lead- ons have become a harbinger of marshal supremo since 1992 Total rejection of use of violence for political ends Last week I had a lengthy ing to different churches leaders from ZANU-PF tutions they control are not whom I had the charged political discussion with or Christian denomina- and the two MDC forma- engaged in the perpetra- political discourse with my nephew from a com- tions. In rural Zimbabwe, tions agreed, among other tion of political violence. had no kind words for Coordinator’s munity in rural Zimbabwe often at funerals various things: Sadly, not much those who engage in po- during which he expressed church or denomination a) To promote the has been done to put into litical violence. Note his dismay and surprise at leaders are lined up and values and practices of practice these noble ideas. He said ‘In our com- the ease with which politi- take turns to preach the tolerance, respect, non- Structures and instruments munity we have rejected cal activists and supporters gospel in harmony and in violence and dialogue as of political violence con- violence, we left it for dogs quickly resort to the use of celebration of differences means of resolving politi- tinue to be sharpened in that cannot communicate. violence – believing it to and diversity. No vio- FDOGLIIHUHQFHV anticipation of the much- For us dialogue resolves be a legitimate means of lence breaks out because b) To renounce and talked-about elections in all differences.’ Profound achieving political ends. a member of the commu- desist from the promotion 2011 under unreformed words that should ring Extreme polarization nity has chosen to belong and use of violence, under conditions that prevailed from every hill and valley and violence continue to to the Methodist Church in whatever name called, as a during the widespread in Zimbabwe. characterize village-level Zimbabwe or the Apostol- means of attaining politi- electoral violence of be- If communities unite dewaMAVHINGA politics in Zimbabwe de- ic Faith Mission. It should FDOHQGV tween April and June against violence then mer- spite the existence of an be so with politics as well. c) That the govern- 2008. Hate speech that chants of this evil practice inclusive government that Why should violence to ment shall apply laws of entrenches polarization ZLOOQRWÀQGURRPWRGLYLGH brings together in one gov- visited upon a person who the country fully and im- characterizes state media families and communi- ernment political leaders chooses to identify them- partially in bringing all reports. Political leaders ties by sowing their seeds from the three main par- selves with the Movement perpetrators of political who control instruments of discord and hatred. We ties in the country. Clearly For Democratic Change, YLROHQFHWRERRN of violence have not em- should simply say it in there is more to why the or with Ndonga party, or d) That all political braced values that engen- our hearts and loudly that scourge of political vio- Ndu? parties, other organiza- der peace, they have not Zimbabwe’s next election lence persists in plaguing Article 18 of the tions and their leaders truly rejected violence in will be an election with a our society, but certainly Global Political Agree- shall commit themselves all its forms. difference – an election lack of political will and ment that set the frame- to do everything to stop But hope for a better without violence or in- leadership features promi- work for Zimbabwe’s cur- and prevent all forms of future comes from the rav- timidation. And we must nently among those rea- rent inclusive government political violence, includ- aged communities them- be prepared to defend our sons. notes that resort to political ing by non-state actors and selves to take leadership peace and to speak out Surprisingly, save for violence undermines our shall consistently appeal in rejecting all forms of against all forms of vio- violent persecution in the collective independence to their members to desist violence and embracing lence. It is not an easy task Anglican Church, there is as a people and our capac- IURPYLROHQFH peace and non-violence. It yes, but it is not an insur- much tolerance and peace- ity to exercise our free will e) To take all mea- is from these communities mountable task either. ful co-existence among in making political choic- sures necessary to ensure that true peace-makers will - coordinator@crisiszim- Zimbabweans belong- es. As a result, political that the structure and insti- emerge. My nephew with babwe.org Cynthia Manjoro case: Where is the activist boyfriend?

ynthia Manjoro has become a household name overnight and for what? A lot of us have different reason for that but for the purposes of this writing, I will cite her un- lawful incarceration and her reason for be- LQJC GHQLHG EDLO  VKH LV FRQVLGHUHG Dµ ÁLJKW ULVNµ7DON about selective application of law! However, mine is not to vent my anger at the legal system in Zimbabwe (oh, how I wish I could but at least not in the whole article) but to look at Cynthia’s life as a woman and try and under- stand what her being held up in such conditions has done to her life, her son’s life, her mother’s and also maybe to attempt an unpacking process of the role of her boyfriend and his role in all this. Cynthia’s life dramatically changed when she was picked up by the police and told she had to be arrested because her car (which her boyfriend had been driving) was seen at the scene of a crime she was clueless about. As an IT Specialist, I’m sure this was not really some- thing she anticipated at any one point. In this particular instance, her crime is that she is a girlfriend to an activist who was doing his own thing and got caught up in this “messy” web. FALSELY IMPRISONED: Cynthia Manjoro is pictured here with her two year-old son.-pic supplied Tracing the media today, it is explained that she will be used as bait to lure her boyfriend who is nowhere to never mind the man that is missing in this picture. case, the right thing is that Cynthia is exonerated form a be found. My question here then is, what kind of love do Let us look at her family, two year old son whose rights crime she did not commit and that she is freed. Why do we purport to have for each other when we let our loved are also being violated because her mother’s boyfriend we let this happen to our children, sisters, mothers, aunts ones suffer for the kind of jobs that we have? Is it morally has not been able to own up by coming to explain his side and loved ones? Let us continue to rally behind Cynthia right, to let the one I love pay for the crime that I commit RIWKHVWRU\DQGÀJKWIRU&\QWKLD·VIUHHGRP7KHIDPLO\ Manjoro and proclaim that enough is enough, Justice de- LQP\OLQHRIGXW\"$VDZRPDQ,ÀQGLWSDLQIXODQGFRQ- am sure is suffering because of this. Imagine the mother, layed is justice denied so let her be free now. fusing that I give the man of my dreams my car only to siblings and you name them, each one of them. The emo- No to illegal arrests of activists and let us be true to be rotting in jail because he is not being humane enough tional trauma of knowing that Cynthia is not guilty but is WKHOHJDOÀHOGDQGSUDFWLFHWUXHOHJDOUHIRUPV«.Cynthia to own up to his role in some issue that concerns him? suffering for being that woman who just happened to love Manjoro should be freed and freed now! Think about it, what is Cynthia’s crime? Being girlfriend a man of her choice and the next thing her car leads to her to Darlington? If I may know, then what crime did she being linked to some crime. Let us be serious people and commit? That her heart chose to fall in love with a man separate issues! My heart goes out to each of them. who has now left her to suffer for his activism. Let us do Let us be serious and clean up our act as human be- ZKDWZHFDQDVDFWLYLVWVDQGÀJKWIRU&\QWKLD·VIUHHGRP ings. It is good to do the right thing but again, who de- By Grace Chirenje, an activist with a keen interest in termines what the right thing is? For me in this particular Women and Youth Affairs. > PLAY - Rituals (Rooftop Promotions): UPCOMING - Wits University (13- 14 July 2011) - Central Methodist Church (15 July 2011) ACTIVITIES: - Hillbrow Theatre (16 July 2011) (GLWRU'HZD0DYKLQJD3XEOLVKHGE\WKH&ULVLVLQ=LPEDEZH&RDOLWLRQ6$5HJLRQDO2IÀFHWK)ORRU.KRWVR+RXVH0DUVKDOO6WUHHW0DUVKDOOWRZ32%R[0DUVKDOOWRZQ7HO 0RELOH(PDLOPHGLD#FULVLV]LPEDEZHRUJZZZFULVLV]LPEDEZHRUJ