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(NEWZIMBABWE) PM blasts police as activist buried

COMMENT - Morgan Tsvangirai likes to make people forget he is part of the government now. And who is to say that 'suspected ZANU-PF supporters' aren't just MDC cadres from a different faction?

PM blasts police as activist buried
03/06/2012 00:00:00
by Staff Reporter

PRIME Minister and MDC-T leader, Morgan Tsvangirai, has accused police of standing by and failing to take action as a party activist was stoned to death after political violence broke out in Mudzi district last week.

Speaking at the burial Sunday of Cephas Magura, 60, Tsvangirai said police should have acted to prevent the clashes when it became clear that trouble was imminent. The clashes took place at a Mudzi business centre where MDC-T and Zanu PF supporters held rival gatherings.

Magura died as a result of severe head injuries and seven Zanu-PF supporters have since appeared in court in connection with his murder. The MDC-T claims the clashes took place in full view of police officers.

“It is not good for people to kill each other no matter their political differences. As political leaders, we are preaching the gospel of peace and unity in Zimbabwe for political violence is a national curse,” Tsvangirai said.

“As leaders, we have the powers to bring peace to our land and to confine violence to the dustbins — we should teach our supporters to shun violence, to pursue peace and to engage in civilised political campaigns.

“The issue of political violence was topical at the recent Sadc Troika meeting and we should clear violence before elections because Sadc said it is part of the road map before the next elections.
“The MDC-T will work hard to make sure free and fair elections are held in Zimbabwe.”

MDC-T’s Women’s Assembly chairwoman, Theresa Makone, accused Zanu PF MPs Milton Kachepa (Mudzi North) and Acquilina Katsande (Mudzi West) of fanning the violence.
She said the pair should have been arrested as accomplices.

The MDC-T says Magura was stoned to death by suspected Zanu PF supporters who disrupted a police-sanctioned rally at Chimukoko business centre.

But police spokesman Senior Assistant Commissioner Wayne Bvudzijena denied officers had been negligent.

“If indeed the police were negligent, that will come up in our investigations. We sent our team and arrests have been made and we will continue investigating the matter,” he said.

Labels: CADRES, MDC, MORGAN TSVANGIRAI

posted by MrK @ 2:35 PM