Mutasa threatens to shoot protestors

By Lance Guma
12 April 2006

State security minister Didymus Mutasa has threatened opposition supporters who intend to join pending mass protests that government will ‘use guns’ to thwart them. According to the Zimonline News site Mutasa warned MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai that he will pay with his life if he called for such protests. The Security Minister was responding to questions by ZimOnline on whether the government would permit peaceful protests by the opposition. He warned Tsvangirai and the MDC that they would "pay dearly" if they tried to take to the streets against Mugabe.

Mutasa reminded the news agency that Zanu PF had ‘shed blood before’ in fighting the war of liberation from British colonial rule. He is quoted as saying, “Anyone, particularly Tsvangirai who threatens peace and stability in this country will get capital punishment …. and we mean it. We maintain organs of national security such as the army to protect the stability and integrity of our country. They will be instructed to use all resources at their disposal, including guns (to stop protests)."
Zimonline further quotes Mutasa saying, "We have shed blood before to achieve independence. So let no one be fooled that we will fold our arms while they (the opposition) cause mayhem and violence to remove democratically elected governments. They will pay and pay dearly." Activists have reacted with outrage to the remarks. The international community and African leaders have been challenged to condemn the statements by Mutasa rather than wait for a tragedy to unfold.