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ZimRights condemns Mutoko violence
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
September 25, 2012

The Zimbabwe Human Rights Association strongly condemns alleged soldiers' disruption of the Weshman Ncube led Movement for Democratic Change organised campaigning rally on Friday the 21st September.

Reports are that hooligans suspected to be ZANU PF sympathisers and dressed in army uniforms attacked people who attended the rally at Mutoko Centre. Several are said to have been forced to scatter soon after the departure of the MDC-N leadership. The attack also left six people injured and reportedly hospitalised at Mutoko Hospital.

It is unfortunate that Zimbabweans still believe in violent politics. It is surprising that the behaviour is continuing regardless of the nation's similar experiences around 2008 that left thousands of people misplaced, paralysed, raped and properties destroyed. We demand an urgent investigation into the matter and prosecution of culprits. In fact the situation demands seriousness and toughness because the incident in a way signals a belt of intolerance within the region considering that it happened a few kilometres away from Mudzi, where the MDC-T lost a supporter at an attempted rally about three months ago. It is also sad that the unfortunate incident occurred on the United Nations sanctioned International Day of Peace when the majority of democratically progressive minds were reflecting on progress and mapping the way forwarding.

The matter is also tempting to conclude that maybe these are manifestations of Major General Martin Chedondo's teachings to the soldiers at a pass out sometime in May when he urged them to support no other party than ZANU PF. He was addressing more than 3 000 young soldiers from the 2 brigade in Mutoko who were on a battlefield exercise, when he said "the army should support ZANU PF because it is a revolutionary party and is the only political party with national interests at heart". It is our belief that all these cumulative unpleasant developments warrant serious intervention also taking into account that the country is heading for an election.

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