Maravi

MDC to discuss power sharing

MDC to discuss power sharing
Written by George Chellah in Harare, Zimbabwe
Tuesday, January 13, 2009 9:38:43 AM

OPPOSITION Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) national executive will this weekend meet to discuss the status of the stalled SADC-brokered power-sharing deal. MDC spokesperson Nelson Chamisa announced yesterday that the opposition party’s highest decision-making organ would convene this weekend.

“The MDC National Executive meets in Harare on 18 January, 2009 to deliberate on critical issues affecting the party and the people of Zimbabwe,” Chamisa said. “The issues to be discussed include the desperate humanitarian situation characterised by massive starvation in the country and the abductions and arbitrary arrests of party and civic activists on trumped-up charges. The executive will also discuss the state and status of the SADC-brokered negotiated political settlement.

“The MDC National Executive meeting comes at a time when all social services, especially education and health, have virtually collapsed. Over seven million people are surviving on food aid while virtually every Zimbabwean is struggling to survive in a dollarised economy.”

Meanwhile, Chamisa has alleged that more MDC activists were still missing.

“The whereabouts of eleven MDC supporters who were abducted by armed gunmen state security agents across the country late last year remain unknown despite frantic efforts by the party, relatives and lawyers to locate them,” Chamisa said. “The 11 were part of over 40 MDC activists including a two-year-old child who were abducted by armed gunmen across the country since October 29, 2008.”

He said the other activists have since been brought to court on trumped-up charges of training in banditry and bombing state buildings.

“Those brought to court have since told the courts that they were severely tortured while in illegal custody in order for them to confess to these false allegations. Other three employees of the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) including its director, Jestina Mukoko and a freelance journalist are facing similar charges and are in remand prison,” Chamisa said. “The missing 11 MDC activists are; Llyod Tarumbwa, Terry Musona, Fanwell Tembo, Larry Gaka and Gwenzi Kahiya who were abducted in Banket in Mashonaland West Province on 29 October, 2008.

The others are; Charles Muza, Ephraim Mabeka and Edmore Vangirayi who were abducted on December 10, 2008 in Gokwe, Midlands province, while Graham Matehwa was abducted on December 17, 2008 in Makoni South, Manicaland province and Peter Munyanyi in Gutu South in Masvingo province on December 13, 2008.”

Chamisa said efforts by the MDC, relatives and the party’s lawyers to locate the allegedly abducted activists’ whereabouts have been fruitless as the police are claiming that they are not in police custody.

“The MDC is deeply concerned by the abductions of its members and civic society activists, which flies in the face of the Global Political Agreement (GPA) signed by the three major political parties on September 15, 2008,” said Chamisa. “The MDC has since put in place a team of experienced legal attorneys and at a political level the party has sought the support and guidance of the SADC, AU and United Nations, so that the rights and freedoms of the abducted people are protected.”

Labels: MDC

posted by MrK @ 9:39 AM