MUTAMBARA MDC Press Statement
24 March 2007

MDC Rejects ZANU-PF Divide and Rule Tactics

The MDC unequivocally rejects with total contempt attempts by the rogue regime of Robert Mugabe to divide the democratic forces in the opposition. Today the 24th of March 2007, the government announced through its media mouthpieces that it had allowed the MDC to proceed to hold a rally in St Mary’s Chitungwiza., barely three days after it had formally written to the MDC and advised that it would not sanction such a rally. It is very clear to us in the MDC that the tainted olive branch being proffered by the dysfunctional Mugabe regime is no more than sugar coated poison aimed at dividing an opposition that is united to ensure that the regime will never have another moment of peace until it is driven out.

The Government of Robert Mugabe has no iota of a moral right or authority to decide on who should or should not hold a rally. As a Party, we do not believe that our survival or our political fortunes depend on holding rallies sanctioned by anyone, ZANU-PF for that matter. We reject in the strongest of terms any attempt at such a suggestion. It should be clear to Robert Mugabe and his surrogates that selective application of the law will never have any takers in the democratic movement. If ZANU-PF, which has no moral authority to do so denies Morgan Tsvangirai the right to hold a rally- Arthur Mutambara will never accept to proceed with such a rally. Equally so, if Arthur Mutambara is denied the right to hold a rally- then Morgan Tsvangirai should never agree to accept the dishonest gestures of ZANU-PF. Mugabe should know in very clear and uncertain terms that any injury inflicted on one democratic force is a clear assault on all forces.

The seriousness of ZANU-PF in allowing our rally to proceed at the eleventh hour is criminal and typical of a regime bent on fermenting disunity among Zimbabweans. If at all ZANU-PF was serious, it should have given the people of Zimbabwe and Chitungwiza in particular a public apology. From the time that we announced that we would hold a rally in Chitungwiza, the amount of abuse that has been visited upon our supporters is horrific. The Member of Parliament for St Mary’s home was ransacked and he was hounded into hiding as if he is a common criminal, several party supporters were assaulted brutalized and arrested, as late as this afternoon.

The evil nature of ZANU-PF and their total disdain for the opposition is typified in this weak willed attempt at giving civil liberties. Robert Mugabe can keep his benevolence, until the day that he publicly and with a great show of contrition apologizes for the deaths of Gift Tandare and Itai Manyeruke. There must be public display of remorse for the brutal assaults on all opposition leaders over the last two weeks. We thank Mugabe for nothing and never shall we beg him for anything. People of Zimbabwe will reclaim their rights, by any means necessary.

The principle of the MDC Defiance Campaign is not that we will only participate in rallies that have been outlawed by ZANU-PF but rather it is a rejection of ZANU-PF machinations in all their forms. We do not depend on ZANU-PF whims to grant the people their right to exercise their inalienable rights. We therefore choose to defy the half hearted and evil gesture of ZANU-PF of purportedly allowing us to hold a rally in St Mary’s while denying everyone else the same right. Let it be clear to Mugabe today that no genuine democratic force will pander to the illusionary whims of ZANU-PF and agree to crumbs of justice unwillingly dropped from his ivory tower,

The MDC demands that ZANU-PF unconditionally and without any shadow of selective application of laws and rights, immediately return to all citizens of Zimbabwe their right to freedom of Assembly and Association that it has criminally usurped. ZANU-PF should further apologise to the Zimbabwean people for its crimes against humanity and forthwith restore all civil liberties unconditionally.

The MDC Defiance campaign will continue unabated. It will not be railroaded by such feeble and distasteful fantasies by ZANU-PF of a divided opposition grateful to receive mercies from an illegitimate regime. We will not allow ZANU-PF to set the agenda in Zimbabwe. We will not allow ZANU-PF to divide and rule the opposition.

Consequently, the MDC will not participate in a ZANU-PF sanctioned rally in Chitungwiza on the 25th of March 2007.

It is defiance or death, and we choose to defy and confront.

Hon P. Misihairabwi-Mushonga

MDC Deputy Secretary General