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Ministers
condemn the arrest of Bulawayo youths
Habakkuk
Trust
April 09, 2013
Government Ministers
have castigated the arrest
of 21 Bulawayo youth activists who were protesting against ZESA’s
decision of employing about 300 people from outside the Matabeleland
Region for a project at Insukamini Sub Station in Bulawayo as reported
in the Newsday of 09 April 2013.
Speaking to Habakkuk
Trust over the phone, the Co-Minister in the Organ for National
Healing, Reconciliation and Re-integration, Honourable Moses Mzila
Ndlovu condemned the arrest as a ‘blatant violation of the
rights of people because these people were just claiming their right
to employment’ and denying ‘youths from the region economic
opportunities for empowerment and development’. Honourable
Mzila further reiterated that, “It will be difficult to attain
peace in this country because peace without justice is useless.
Justice simple means that people in communities should be the first
to benefit from opportunities in their locality.” Mzila further
added that, “We can never have reconciliation and peace when
preferential treatment in access to opportunities and resources
disregards locals.” The Minister also called on all youths
of Zimbabwe to emulate the arrested youths saying, “What these
young people did should be done by youths generally in Zimbabwe.
Whether you are in Mutoko, Beitbridge, Victoria Falls or wherever
in Zimbabwe, people should not allow opportunities being taken under
their nose without taking action against it.”
The Minister of State
Enterprises and Parastatals Honourable Gorden Moyo, speaking from
Harare condemned the arrests saying, “People should not be
arrested for expressing their views considering that Zimbabwe is
a democracy that should allow freedom of expression in various ways
and the arrest are not only undemocratic but also a violation of
freedoms.” Honourable Moyo further reiterated Mzila’s
sentiments saying, “Whenever you are employing people in a
particular area, the locals should be the first to benefit, as it’s
an acknowledged fact that local communities will do a better job.”
Moyo also condemned ZESA
for ‘importing labour to Bulawayo’ saying, “I
believe there is no reason and it is wrong for anyone to be importing
labour especially to Matabeleland where there are many people who
are not employed.”
Meanwhile Habakkuk Trust
joined other civic groups and leaders of political parties from
the region to visit the arrested youths at Bulawayo Central Police
station. Among the arrested were young people from Emganwini and
some Habakkuk Trust community advocacy action team members from
Emganwini who had participated on their individual capacities.
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