Minister proposes joint panel to reduce violence

THE Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa has proposed that the ruling party and opposition set up a joint panel to look into claims of political violence and see those responsible are prosecuted.

Chinamasa issued a statement saying that the ruling Zanu PF party is “interested in the truth, whether it hurts us or not,” referring to the fact they are interesting in finding out who the perpetrators of post-electoral violence that has gripped the southern African country are and that they should be brought to justice.

Chinamasa added that the Zimbabwean judiciary must deal seriously with such political violence regardless of where it was emanating from.

Sources in Masvingo Province said police on Wednesday arrested about 50 Zanu PF militia members in connection with violence, murder and rape in rural areas.

Last month seventy-eight Movement for Democratic Change (Tsvangirai) youths were arrested in Harare in connection with public violence related to the opposition's failed mass stay away.

The latest call by minister Chinamasa echoes a report issued by the United Nations on Tuesday urging authorities in Zimbabwe to deal with the deteriorating situation in the country.

The UN expressed its concern over rising political violence in Zimbabwe, allegedly perpetrated gangs of supporters of both the ruling the ruling ZANU-PF party and the opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC).

"These incidences of violence are occurring in the communal, farming and urban areas and there are indications that the level of violence is escalating in all these areas and could reach crisis levels," UN spokesperson Michele Montas told reporters in New York, adding that the Organization's country team has received some evidence to substantiate these reports.

The MDC-T party claims that 32 deaths have so far been recorded but the UN issued a statement saying they had received unconfirmed reports of two deaths due to the violence.

“If there’s going to be an end to violence, the two parties should put aside their differences and tackle the problem head on and then go to the elections,” an analyst told the Zimbabwe Guardian.

He continued: “We have seen Zanu PF thugs brutalising supporters of the MDC-T in Uzumba-Maramba-Pfungwe. At the same time, we have also seen incidents like the bombing of Zanu PF’s Judith Mkwanda in Emakhandeni, Bulawayo by MDC thugs. This is unacceptable and violators must be brought to book,” said the analyst who refused to be named.

The Deputy Minister of Information Bright Matonga said, “Hatirarami Mupanguri, (48) of Mwenga village in Murewa, Wellington Mbofana (48) of Huni village, Murewa and Michael Mudziwana (69) of Tarwirei village, Murewa were assaulted with sjamboks, sticks and knobkerries.”

“Reports were made to the police. The four accused, who are well known MDC activists were arrested after the case was reported to Murewa police. The case number is RRB 0300004.”

The minister continued, “We are recording these cases and bringing the perpetrators to book. So how can the MDC-T claim that government is perpetrating violence when they are not reporting the cases to the police?”