Zaka police stop victims of political violence demo

By Lance Guma
18 March 2010

A demonstration by victims of political violence, which was meant to take place on Thursday in Zaka, was blocked by police who claimed that the participants had not followed proper procedures. Most of the victims were targeted by ZANU PF militants in the 2008 one-man presidential run-off and wanted to show their dissatisfaction with the coalition government for not doing enough to get them justice.

In 2008 Zanu PF thugs in army uniform ran riot and petrol-bombed MDC-T offices at Jerera Growth point in Zaka, killing three MDC-T officials. The truckload of thugs besieged the offices at midnight and first shot the victims before bombing their offices. Also housed in the building were some victims of political violence in the area who had sought refuge there. Soon after the attack the charred remains of 3 bodies lay on the floor in the burnt out MDC office and all had bullet wounds.

Zaka North MDC-T MP Ernest Mudavanhu confirmed that victims of violence in his constituency had planned to demonstrate at Jerera Growth Point. He said people there are very bitter that one year after the coalition government was set up the national healing organ had not addressed their demands for justice. Mudavanhu said most of them had held out hope that the new government would address such issues.

Those wanting to demonstrate say not only have they been denied justice for what happened in 2008, but they are still being victimized by ZANU PF militants who are gradually being deployed again, in preparation for possible elections ahead. Its no surprise that villagers in Masvingo (were Zaka is) told Tsvangirai to pull out of the government when he visited there last week on a food assessment tour.

Meanwhile on Thursday the MDC-T information department issued an alert saying that its youths will on Friday stage a peaceful march in Harare, demanding justice on behalf of MDC members victimized by Zanu PF. The procession will start from Harvest house at 12 noon the party said.