Zimbabwe critic says Mugabe regime planning tidal wave of repression

By Violet Gonda
15 December 2005

An outspoken political analyst has warned that the events of the past week, where the government seized passports from several critics, is an indication of more repressive measures to come. Dr John Makumbe says the latest passport seizures are a classic demonstration of how Zimbabwe is going back to the communist era where you needed a visa to get out of your own country and where your passport was impounded if you said anything the dictator in your own country didn’t like.

On Wednesday overzealous immigration officials and state security agents, under instructions from the Registrar General’s office, confiscated yet another passport – that of outspoken Zimbabwean activist, Raymond Majongwe. This is despite the fact that on the same day, the leading newspaper publisher Trevor Ncube and opposition official Paul Temba Nyathi had their passports returned. The Attorney General had conceded that the seizures were unlawful.

Dr Makumbe said the Central Intelligence Organisation were unduly enthusiastic and “not particularly intelligent”. He said they did not realise that after a constitutional amendment there is need to develop an enabling act for implementing what is contained in the constitutional amendment act.

But he believes this is a temporary reprieve and warned that the evil of the regime is bound to escalate, where not only passports are going to be taken but things like computers and telephones are going to be used to clampdown on opponents. “They are intending to be as vicious and brutal as ever and very likely to use a very wide net to catch many more people.”

The outspoken critic also noted that the MDC is fighting each other at a time when it is supposed to be fighting the regime. But on the other hand, he said, what was happening in the opposition is a necessary ingredient of the struggle for the liberation of the country.

“The MDC was an omnibus when it was formed because everyone who didn’t want Mugabe got on board. Now it is time to examine and sift those on board. We are now going to end up with an MDC which is more focused and has a better ideology. But it’s unfortunate in the timing because it is happening while the dictator is tightening the noose on opponents.”
Robert Mugabe openly welcomed the controversial measures at the ZANU PF conference last weekend and vowed to take "stern action" against non-governmental organisations and critics of his government.
Makumbe said this is an indication of how unschooled this regime, is saying a person does not need to go outside Zimbabwe to expose what is happening in the country. “I can do that from my home without touching my passport. But the regime thinks everyone is as backward as they are.”