Zimbabwean minister threatens opposition

By Violet Gonda
22 March 2006

Minister of State Security Didymus Mutasa has repeated threats against the opposition in a telephone conversation with SW Radio Africa. The security minister had threatened the MDC on national television two weeks ago, and when we contacted him for clarification on Wednesday, he first refused to comment saying he doesn’t talk to “banned people” and puppets of the west. But after some gentle persuasion, he later revealed that ZANU PF would use its power to ‘silence’ opponents.

When the notorious minister first threatened the MDC, he warned that the government would “eliminate” people in the opposition who upset the security of the country. This warning came shortly after security forces allegedly found an arms cache at the home of Peter Hitschmann in Mutare. Several opposition members including MDC MP Giles Mutsekwa were arrested on charges of plotting to assassinate Robert Mugabe. The charges were later dropped for lack of evidence.

Asked what he meant by “eliminating the opposition,” Mutasa boasted, “Tangatirikureva precisely izvozvo. Kuti vachifunga kuti tinovatya hativatyi and they should not speak like they are doing (sic). Kunge iwo ndiwo vakabata zvinhu zvese muno muZimbabwe. Vakabata zvinhu zvese muZimbabwe ndisu.”

(“We meant precisely that. That we are not scared of them if they think we are scared of them. And they should not speak as if they are in control of everything in Zimbabwe. We have control of everything in Zimbabwe.”)

The threats were renewed this week after calls were made by the leader of the opposition, Morgan Tsvangirai, for the MDC to embark on a "cold season of peaceful democratic resistance" to end the dictatorship. The government responded on Wednesday through the state mouthpiece – the Herald newspaper– with a warning that there would be bloodshed if the opposition embarked on anti-government street protests.

The ZANU PF statement said, “"ZANU-PF alone has the gruelling experience of war, and strongly urges the armchair talkers to shut up. War is not like a picnic or a dinner party, it is blood, sweat, injuries and death."

Peaceful protests are a constitutional right in Zimbabwe, but the government has passed draconian legislation to make it illegal.

Critics have accused the government of using diversionary tactics to run away from its biggest problem - the collapsed economy.