Introduction
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Opposition forces in Zimbabwe: A trail of violence 1. Introduction All opposition forces in Zimbabwe and beyond our boarders have been, for a long time, working either individually, separately or jointly in strategising for regime change in Zimbabwe. These forces include the following: Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) anti-Senate Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) pro-Senate National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) Crisis Coalition in Zimbabwe Women/Men of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA/MOZA) Zimbabwe National Students Union (ZINASU) Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights Christian Alliance When all these opposition forces realised that their concerted effort and agenda for regime change, were not bearing desired results; with advice from their sponsors and supporters in the West, they came up with the Broad Alliance whose agenda is still the same- to mobilise people for regime change in Zimbabwe. Diplomats above from left to right: A British Intelligence Officer, Holland Deputy Ambassador Leoni M Cuelenaere, Reuters Journalist Young Rath, Spanish Ambassador Santiago Matrtinez-Caro, British Ambassador Andrew Pocock and Sweden Ambassador Sten Rylander . The pictures was taken a Rotten Row Court on 13 March 2007 1 January to 15 March 2007 1 Opposition forces in Zimbabwe: A trail of violence The Broad Alliance’s defiance campaign for regime change and over throw of the democratically elected Government of Zimbabwe has resulted in a plethora of criminal activities and political violence in the country, especially in Harare, where people have been attacked, buses stoned and cars burned to ashes, police officers seriously injured, etc as seen in some pictures below. Trudy Stevenson at Avenues MDC supporters smashed this bus, reducing it to a shell during Clinic after being attacked by its violent campaigns in Harare MDC supporters 04-07-2006 2. Activities of the Opposition Broad Alliance The leaders of all these opposition forces have been addressing numerous meetings across the country, drumming support for anti- Government activities and civil disobedience. With the hardships being faced by the people of Zimbabwe, the opposition forces intensified their campaign hoping to capitalise on these hardships. It has been observed that financial inducement is being used to attract people to attend meetings and participate in demonstrations. The pie chart below illustrates the distribution and levels of participation of each of the opposition forces in criminal activities. 4% 6% 30% MDC ANT-SENATE 16% NCA MDC PRO-SENATE ZINASU WOZA 6% CRISIS COALITION CHRISTIAN ALLIANCE 18% 20% 1 January to 15 March 2007 2 Opposition forces in Zimbabwe: A trail of violence Some of the incidents contained in this document confirm this. A). Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) anti-Senate i. On 20 January 2007 from 1400 hours to 1500 hours, MDC anti-Senate President TSVANGIRAI addressed a meeting at Chisuma Business Centre, Chisumbanje where he castigated Zanu PF for failing to fulfill its promises since 1980. He said he is against the idea of holding Presidential elections in 2010, saying Zimbabwe should be led by young people not President MUGABE. ii. On 21 January 2007 from 1400 hours to 1600 hours, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) House of Assembly Member for Glen View, Paul MADZORE convened an MDC anti-Senate rally at Kuwadzana 4 Municipal Park, Harare. Two thousand five hundred (2500) people attended. The following speakers addressed the meeting: Morgan FEMAI MDC anti-Senate Harare Provincial Chairman Sekai HOLLAND MDC anti-Senate Secretary for Policy and Research Training Willas MADZIMURE MDC anti-Senate House of Assembly Member for Kambuzuma Elias MUDZURI MDC anti-Senate National Organising Secretary Tendi BITI MDC anti-Senate Secretary General Nelson CHAMISA MDC anti-Senate House of Assembly Member for Kuwadzana The speakers indicated that they would violently oppose harmonisation of Presidential and Parliamentary elections in 2010. They said MDC anti-Senate is going to change the Constitution before 2008. They were also mobilising people to support it against the harmonisation of elections in 2010 anticipating that a referendum would be held or they would demonstrate against the harmonisation of elections in 2010. 1 January to 15 March 2007 3 Opposition forces in Zimbabwe: A trail of violence During the early hours of Monday the 12th of March 2007 some MDC activists set ablaze an omnibus that was used by cross- border traders after looting their goods in Kuwadzana. In picture below are remains of the omnibus. iii. On 23 January 2007 at 1100 hours, Save Zimbabwe Campaign fliers headlined Sounds of Freedom were picked outside Pioneer House at corner Fife Street and 8th Avenue, Bulawayo. The fliers written in English and Ndebele are calling upon Zimbabweans to hoot, clap, whistle, scream and shout for a better Zimbabwe every Wednesday from 1300 hours to 1310 hours, starting from 24 January 2007. They are indicating that people will vote in 2008 under a new Constitution. iv. On 24 January 2007 from 1300 hours to 1310 hours, twenty (20) MDC anti-Senate youths from MDC anti-Senate Headquarters, Harvest House, Harare demonstrated in Harare City Centre. The youths were deployed from corner Nelson Mandela Avenue and Angwa Street to Parliament Building. They whistled and clapped hands. At the same time three youths came from Harvest House carrying A4 khaki envelopes with the usual Save Zimbabwe Campaign fliers, which they threw at the intersection of Nelson Mandela Avenue and Angwa Street. Motorists were incensed 1 January to 15 March 2007 4 Opposition forces in Zimbabwe: A trail of violence and responded by hooting from the intersection towards Parliament Building. The three youths quickly went back to Harvest House and no one was arrested. v. On 28 January 2007 from 1300 hours to 1600 hours, MDC leader TSVANGIRAI addressed six hundred (600) people at an open space in Glen View 1, Harare where he urged his party supporters to prepare for mass action against the Government, which he said would be staged this year 2007. He said the mass action is aimed at assisting his party to assume power adding that his party is prepared to face the challenges and account for its actions. He said by calling for the extension of his Presidential term from 2008 to 2010, President MUGABE does not have the people of Zimbabwe at heart. Lastly, he said the MDC anti-Senate would continue with its preparations for the 2008 Presidential elections. vi. On 01 February 2007 at 1135 hours, a group of fifteen (15) MDC anti-Senate supporters engaged in an illegal demonstration near Fife Avenue Vegetable Market, Bulawayo. They incited vendors to join them but nobody showed interest. They marched along Robert Mugabe before turning right into 9th Avenue past Chronicle offices. While at corner 9th Avenue and Main Street, the group swelled to fifty (50) people. The group was then intercepted by Police Reaction group and they discarded their placards and disappeared into the crowd. Police arrested one of the demonstrators, Traceford MASINA of house number 74212 Pumula North, Bulawayo. MASINA indicated that he was given $1 500 to board commuters to town by MDC anti-Senate Pumula North District Chairman, Ephraim NCUBE. The demonstrators were holding placards inscribed the following messages: Free the mind, free the people We want democracy now We demand jobs No to lifetime President Pat the teachers, workers, farmers 1 January to 15 March 2007 5 Opposition forces in Zimbabwe: A trail of violence Vendors, students unite for change Pay the Police Lets save Zimbabwe Morgan TSVANGIRAI hezvoko Time to act We want free not fee education To hell with evil regime I will vote in 2008 Free the nation Tiri muhondo naRobert No to ZINWA in Bulawayo We demand a robust education system MUGABE and Zanu PF must go ZvechiZanu PF povo yaramba Morgan TSVANGIRAI for President We demand a new Constitution Murombo munhu ngaadzidze Change is certain GONO shut up Zeros at State House The following were notable figures among the demonstrators: Amen MPOFU MDC anti-Senate Bulawayo District Ward 2 Councillor Artwell SIBANDA MDC anti-Senate Bulawayo Provincial Youth Secretary Joseph MANNING Bulawayo Vendors Association Treasurer vii. On 01 February 2007 from 1130 hours to 1400 hours, MDC anti-Senate Mashonaland West Provincial Treasurer, Biggie HAUROVI convened and addressed an MDC anti-Senate meeting at Magunje dip-tank attended by forty (40) people. He said the agenda of the MDC was to remove Zanu PF from power. He said President MUGABE was daydreaming by intending to hold Presidential elections in 2010. He said MDC was already campaigning for 2008 Presidential elections. viii. On 03 February 2007 from 1500 hours to 1700 hours, MDC anti-Senate House of Assembly MP for Glen View, Paul 1 January to 15 March 2007 6 Opposition forces in Zimbabwe: A trail of violence MADZORE convened and addressed an MDC anti-Senate meeting at Matongo Shopping Centre open space in Mabvuku, Harare which was attended by six hundred (600) people. MDC anti-Senate House of Assembly Member for Mbare, Gift CHIMANIKIRE said President MUGABE can not be removed from power through the ballot paper, saying he is a dictator and can rig any election. He added that dictators are removed from power through violence and cited the removal of Mobutu Sese SEKO of the Democratic Republic of Congo (DRC) by Laurent KABILA as an example. Lastly, he called for mass actions. During the