MDC Newsletter: The Changing Times On-Line
Upcoming Events*
10th Anniversary Celebrations events
Manicaland
16 August 2009
Matebeleland North
30 August 2009
Bulawayo
12 Sept 2009
*LEAD STORY*
*Soldiers pull down President Tsvangirai’s rally posters*
*President Tsvangirai*
Friday, 07 August , 2009
*Major Highlights ***
Manicaland Province 10th Anniversary Celebratory rally on 16 August 2009 at
Sakubva Stadium, Mutare.
Heroes and Defence Forces day on the 11th and 12th of August 2009
*Mutare* – Armed soldiers in Mutare, Manicaland province on Wednesday
tore rally posters belonging to MDC President, Hon. Morgan Tsvangirai that
had been placed in Sakubva suburb and surrounding areas.
President Tsvangirai is expected to give a keynote address at Manicaland’s
MDC 10th anniversary celebratory provincial rally at Sakubva Stadium on 16
August.
On Monday, in preparation for this event, the MDC Manicaland provincial
leadership had pasted posters in Mutare to publicise the rally.
However, a group of armed soldiers on Wednesday moved around the town in an
army T35 Mazda truck, pulling down the posters.
The soldiers said they were removing the posters in preparation of the
Heroes’ Day and Defence Forces commemorations to be held at the same venue
next week and were working according to “instructions from above”.
Meanwhile, cases of political violence against MDC supporters are on the
increase in the province with soldiers based at Vhumbunu Primary School in
Mutasa Central harassing and torturing innocent villagers.
Last month at least 20 soldiers established a base at the school and are
moving around with Zanu PF militia harassing people perceived to be MDC
supporters.
The teachers have forced themselves to share accommodation with soldiers at
the school, a situation which has also seriously affected school operations.
Some of the teachers have since fled from the school in fear of being
victimised or tortured by the soldiers and Zanu PF militia.
*Youth Assembly demands release of student leaders*
**
* *
The MDC Youth Assembly secretary-general, Solomon Madzore, has called for
the immediate release of four Zimbabwe National Students Union (Zinasu)
students who were arrested on Wednesday.
Madzore said it was sad to note that students and other activists continued
to be arrested and intimidated despite the formation of the inclusive
government in February.
Clever Bere, the Zinasu president, Kudakwashe Chakabva, Archieford Mudzengi
and Brian Kagodoro were arrested at the University of Zimbabwe after
convening a meeting outside the main library to discuss exorbitant tuition
fees.
They are being charged with trumped-up charges of disorderly conduct in
public.
The four were arrested with 10 other UZ students who have since been
released.
Under unclear circumstances, the Zinasu leaders were today taken to the
Attorney-General’s Office under unclear circumstance after they had been
taken by the police to Harare’s Magistrate Courts.
“This disturbing and unfortunate trend of clamping down on students’ freedom
of assembly, association and expression has been resurrected in defiance of
the laws of the country. The behaviour of the past continues to haunt the
new dispensation. We are worried that the inclusive government has not moved
with speed in terms of shedding off the chequered behaviour of yester-year,”
Madzore said.
“Students must have the fundamental right to gather, debate and organise
action where their interests are being affected. The issue of tuition fees
which are beyond the reach of the students is one such instance.”
The reopening of the UZ has been marred by the shortage of student
accommodation, exorbitant tuition fees and a serious water crisis at the
institution.
*MDC follows up on violence*
* *
**
* The body of MDC Mashonaland West Driver, Joshua Bakacheza*
The MDC is following up with the police on all reported cases of its more
than 500 members who were murdered by Zanu PF militia and State security
agents last year during political violence.
More than 500 people across the country were murdered last year while
thousands more were tortured or had their property and livestock looted.
Most of the cases were reported to the police but no action was taken by the
police officers.
“We do not see the reason why the police should not act on the reported
cases if they have received them.
“The team which we have tasked to make these follow- ups is going to report
to the police all cases which were not reported,” said MDC welfare
coordinator, Brighton Matimba.
According to Matimba; “Names of the murderers were supplied by local people,
some of them who say most of the killers operated within their rural homes
especially soldiers.
“We are also told by villagers that the same perpetrators are threatening
them and boasting that they are immune to prosecution, and are leading the
new bases which have emerged.”
The MDC has also challenged the police to quickly investigate the case of
its Mashonaland West Provincial driver Joshua Bakacheza, who was killed in
June last year before the party vehicle he was driving was hijacked by his
murderers.
“We are worried by this dilly dallying by the police on this case, which
happened last year. Justice should prevail and perpetrators should be
brought to book and we wonder why the police are reacting in such a manner.
However, we will not rest and want to get to the bottom of the matter and in
this case we are very patient,” said an official.
Bakacheza was killed by unidentified armed personnel on 25 June 2008, near
Jaggers Msasa in Harare.
Meanwhile, the MDC is inviting members of the public who might have
information about last year’s horrific murders to contact the party or the
nearest police station.
*Senior police officers ordered to snub MDC rallies*
**
*Senior police officers have been barred from attending MDC rallies*
* *
The Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) has ordered that no police officers above
the rank of inspector will attend political rallies except those addressed
by President Robert Mugabe.
In a notice circulated to all police stations across the country, all senior
police officers have been warned against attending any rallies. The move is
widely believed to be a ploy to intimidate senior officers and to make them
snub all political rallies addressed by MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai and
his fellow party leaders.
“With immediate effect no officers of or above the rank of inspector will
attend political rallies. Officers will only attend those rallies addressed
by his Excellency the State President Cde R. G. Mugabe,” the circular dated
20 July 2009 reads.
Meanwhile, the ZRP has begun a major recruitment drive of Zanu PF youth
militia into its ranks under the guise of a national crackdown on crime.
Radio communications emanating from Police General Headquarters (PGHQ) in
Harare have put out instructions for localised recruitment of new officers.
The entry requirements have been lowered and this is in order to absorb
more notorious Border Gezi youth militia graduates who have been filling the
rank and file of the police force over the years.
Zimbabwe has two national training centres at Morris Depot in Harare, and
Ntabazinduna just outside Bulawayo.
The youth militia have in the past been implicated in the harassment,
assault and torture of MDC activists and supporters
*MDC in Parliament*
*Speaker of Parliament, Hon Lovemore Moyo*
*Parliament submits names of Media Commissioners*
The Speaker of Parliament, Hon. Lovemore Moyo, has submitted the names of 12
candidates who were selected for consideration for the Zimbabwe Media
Commission (ZMC) to President Robert Mugabe despite claims by Zanu PF that
the process had been frozen.
On Monday, the Parliamentary Standing Rules and Order Committee (SROC) held
interviews for commissioners for the ZMC which will replace the now defunct
Media and Information Commission.
“The list has been sent to the President. All the three presiding officers
in the selection process are in agreement on the list of the 12 candidates
after meeting on Tuesday,” said Hon. Moyo.
He said it was incorrect that the SROC had been forced to refer the
controversy surrounding the selection of commissioners to the three main
principals of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) after a number of
interviewees linked to Zanu PF had failed the interviews on Monday.
“It’s a total lie. Most of the stories that we been reading are incorrect.
I repeat: the correct position is that all the presiding officers agreed on
the list.
“Of the 12, nine candidates were not disputed. We had three people in
dispute, but we attended to these as the presiding officers. So the issue
has been concluded. It now awaits the endorsement of President Mugabe,”
Hon. Moyo said.
Zanu PF had been miffed by the fact that notorious media hangmen Tafataona
Mahoso and other party stalwarts such as Chris Mutsvangwa had dismally
failed the interviews.
*MDC in Local Government *
*City of Harare*
*Harare** contests appointment of “special councillors*”
Harare City councillors have filed an application at the High Court
challenging the appointment of 11 special interest councillors last year by
Local Government, Rural and Urban Development Minister Ignatius Chombo.
The councillors are arguing that none of the appointed councillors
represented real interests other than those of a particular party – Zanu PF.
All, but one of the 46 Harare City councillors are from the MDC.
However, Chombo used his powers as Local Government minister and brought in
11 councillors claiming they represented special interest groups.
During a council meeting this week, the councillors felt there was need to
challenge Chombo’s unilateral appointments.
“Let us take the matter to the High Court to understand what special
interest means. The special interest councillors we have are representing
special political interests,” said Councillor Warship of Ward 17.
Clr Maxwell Katsande of Ward 26 said, Kizito Kuchekwa, a special interest
councillor was mobilising people in his ward to pay only US$10 in rates and
other services.
Early this year Bulawayo City councillors went to the High Court to block
Chombo from appointing special interest councillors and won the case
.
*Quote:*
*“This disturbing and unfortunate trend of clamping down on students’
freedom of assembly, association and expression has been resurrected in
defiance of the laws of the country. The behaviour of the past continues to
haunt the new dispensation. We are worried that the inclusive government has
not moved with speed in terms of shedding off the chequered behaviour of
yester-year,” said MDC Youth Assembly secretary-general Solomon Madzore on
the arrests of Zinasu leaders.*
* *
Posted by Dave Fish Eagle
on August 13, 2009. Filed under Local News.
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