Maravi

MDC accuses ZANU-PF of scheming violence

MDC accuses ZANU-PF of scheming violence
By George Chellah
Wednesday April 09, 2008 [04:01]

OPPOSITION MDC has accused the ruling ZANU-PF of scheming to put in place machinery to unleash violence and engage in vote buying ahead of the anticipated run-off. And Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) secretary general Wellington Chibebe stated that the labour movement was concerned over the unsettling threats by war veterans against the opposition on national television.

MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa yesterday stated that ZANU-PF has enlisted the services of various selected individuals in sponsoring a wave of violence and vote-buying.

"Those at the apex of the plot team are reportedly said to be Zimbabwe Defence Forces commander General Constantine Chiwenga, Commissioner General of Police Augustine Chihuri and ZANU-PF politburo member Saviour Kasukuwere," Chamisa stated.

"Indeed, the MDC has it on good authority that the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe has been printing quadrillions of dollars, starting last Friday, to sponsor a massive terror and vote-buying campaign. Violence has already begun on the farms in Masvingo and other provinces on the backdrop of a propaganda campaign that the MDC wants to return land to the whites while war veterans have been provided with 300 vehicles to spearhead the terror programme nationally."

Chamisa said apart from destabilising peace and tranquility, the irresponsible act of printing money by the central bank governor would destroy whatever had remained of the Zimbabwean economy.

And Chibebe stated that the threats by the war veterans against the opposition were a ploy to cower Zimbabweans and instil fear ahead of an imminent runoff.

Chibebe added that the claim that some MDC activists and former white farmers had invaded farms, forcing resettled farmers out of the land, were unfounded.

"It seems the war veterans are the ones who are bent on creating chaos in the country as such statements have the potential to ignite an explosive reaction from ZANU PF agencies and youth militia.

“We foresee a situation where the war veterans are seeking an excuse to unleash violence on innocent citizens who have been otherwise peaceful during this election period," Chibebe stated.

"The ZCTU demands a stop to such threats and that the war veterans should not try Zimbabweans' patience too far. Zimbabwe does not need these kinds of utterances at the moment as we are in a very delicate and potentially explosive situation at the moment."

Labels: ELECTIONS, MDC, ZANU-PF

posted by MrK @ 7:30 AM