MDC stopped from attending Independence celebrations in Mutare

By Tichaona Sibanda
18 April 2007

The officer-in-charge of Mutare central police station, Inspector Florence Marume, on Wednesday personally instructed her officers to block an MDC delegation from entering Sakubva stadium for the Independence celebrations.

The MDC delegation, which included provincial spokesman Pishai Muchauraya, was travelling in a party vehicle when they were stopped at the gate and ordered to turn back. Whilst this was going on, the group saw delegates from Zanu (PF) with party vehicles, being motioned to enter the stadium.

‘At first we resisted, but then the commotion attracted the attention of soldiers nearby who threatened to manhandle us. The soldiers were shouting ‘this never happens in Bindura where we come from’ which suggested to us that they were militias dressed in army uniforms. They were also ready to pounce on us so we retreated,’ Muchauraya said.

The group was eventually escorted from the stadium under police guard and told not to come back. However Muchauraya said they didn’t miss anything inside except the free food and drinks that was on offer.

‘This was supposed to be a national event but we are not surprised because Zanu (PF) has nationalised everything in Zimbabwe, including Easter holidays. The majority of people who attended were bussed in from rural areas, so to them it was a day to feast and not a day to celebrate independence,’ he said.

The group noticed other police officers were reluctant to chase them away and seemed happy to try and negotiate and diffuse the situation.

In Bulawayo the security forces have been criticised for their severe crackdown on opposition activists, but some policemen say they have arrested and sometimes tortured pro-democracy activists against their personal convictions.

Press reports said the officers maintained they were forced to carry out their superiors’ instructions out of fear.
A police officer identified only as Zex is quoted saying since the arrests and crackdown on the opposition started on 11 March, he has dealt with tough situations that have made him do things that he would not personally and independently want to do.

‘I have beaten up and arrested some opposition activists in Harare, where I was transferred to recently, but each time I have done this my heart has bled because I have done it against my will,’ he said.

‘These are simply activists advocating for change, which I also want to see take place, but because I am a police officer and there is always somebody watching my moves and dishing out commands, I am afraid I cannot resist. The consequences may be dire if I did that, perhaps more than those of the activists I have beaten up or witnessed being tortured,’ Zex added.