CIO accused of causing confusion over planned mass action

By Violet Gonda
8 June 2006

Outspoken political commentator Dr John Makumbe has said Robert Mugabe’s notorious Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO) could be behind an email announcing a two day mass stay away in mid- June.

A group calling itself “Concerned Zimbabweans Coalition and civic groups” announced in an emailed statement late Wednesday that mass action will take place on 15th and 16th June.

This planned mass action was immediately denied by MDC officials and various members of the civic society. Lucia Matibenga, acting President of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions, said; “I can strictly and officially deny that we have any knowledge of this impending action as it is stipulated. I can also confirm that there are no such plans at the ZCTU.”

The statement read; “Concerned Zimbabweans Coalition and other civic groups call upon all Zimbabweans to heed the call for a nationwide peaceful Stay Away to press the authorities to urgently act on issues that are afflicting the ordinary person, the Business community and civic operations in the country.”

The group, which did not identify itself said “this is a well coordinated exercise and all the major stakeholders have been consulted about the national two day stayaway.”

But Matibenga, who is also the chairperson of the MDC Women’s Assembly, said her organisation enjoys a cordial relationship with the broader civic society and therefore would have been told if there was any such initiative underway. “She added; “We don’t understand the logic of people organizing a stayaway without consulting the worker’s union.”

Dr John Makumbe did not mince his words and said this was a pre-emptive action to confuse people and to target opponents by the regime. He believes the email is a hoax and should not be taken seriously because if it were serious the authors of the email – which was sent to several Zimbabwean news outlets – would have identified themselves.

Makumbe said; “The email could have easily have been sent by the CIO… because the civic organisations are known. They are well known and they would identify themselves. They are prepared to go to prison to be locked up, to be beaten up if they know they are organising something worthwhile.”

Part of the statement read: “Concerned Zimbabweans Coalition - The time is now for a People’s Revolution - CHIMURENGA CHEVANHU- UMVUKELA WABANTU. We cannot just sit back and rot in our shacks and mansions while a few cronies are benefiting from the prevailing economic situation. We have suffered enough as Zimbabweans and the time is now for us to rise up and express our displeasure at the way in which our lives are being trampled upon.”

Makumbe warned that people should be careful as such statements not only confuse the people but actually give a semblance of civil society organizing against the government, so that government has a reason to mobilise the police and the army.