|
Back to Index
MDC Executive, Zanu PF Politburo to meet in Harare on Wednesday
Movement
for Democratic Change
July 19,
2010
The three national
executive bodies from the three main political parties in the Global
Political Agreement (GPA) meet in Harare on Wednesday to map
out how best they can deal with the issue of the snail's pace
of national healing and politically motivated intimidation among
other critical issues. This is a ground-breaking meeting in the
history of Zimbabwe as the three executive bodies of the MDC, Zanu
PF and Professor Arthur Mutambara's party meet to hold a crucial
indaba on how to deal with political violence and intimidation affecting
the people of Zimbabwe.
Wednesday's meeting
comes at a time when the country is facing a new wave of political
tensions across the country. It will be held when the people still
have fresh wounds and memories of the political violence that took
place in June 2008, continued politically motivated abuses in the
country, arrests and harassment of activist in the civics. The political
divisions in the country have to be looked at seriously with the
political leaders making commitments on how best to deal with these
tensions and the overtly partisan behaviour of some State actors
agents during this Constitution making process. The political violence
in the country is not just citizen versus citizen but also the role
of State actors on citizens.
The MDC believes that
there is need for political leaders and political parties to understand
and appreciate the values of transitional justice, tolerance and
peace. This will go a long way in ending the culture of impunity,
intimidation and violence. The meeting is also expected to deal
with the obligation placed on the inclusive government by the GPA
on "measures necessary and practicable to achieve national
healing, cohesion and unity in respect of victims of pre and post
independence political conflicts."
Our view over
the issue of transitional justice is important. The people of Zimbabwe
need to speak openly about issues of pre-independence violations,
post-independence commissions around the Gukurahundi, Murambatsvina
and the 2008
violence, to name a few crimes. Without openness on these crimes,
national healing is a mirage.
We urge those attending
this crucial and historic indaba to seriously tackle the issue of
violence and the imperative need for restorative and rehabilitative
justice so that Zimbabwe can be healed again. There can be no effective
national healing programme in the absence of transitional justice.
The fears of the victims of violence can only be allayed if all
known perpetrators are brought to book.
We hope this crucial
meeting of our National Executive, the Zanu PF Politburo and Professor
Mutambara's executive will enable the people of Zimbabwe to
have confidence in our transitional government. This historic meeting
must deal with the intimidation and violence surrounding the Constitution-making
process so that the people will make their contributions in an environment
of peace and tolerance.
After this meeting, we
urge political leaders to walk the talk and not pay lip service
by unequivocally liquidating any form of violence, abuse of office
along political lines and the disregard of the rule of law.
Zimbabweans deserve real
change.
Together, united, winning,
ready for real change.
Email mdcnewsbrief@gmail.com,
mdcpress@mweb.co.zw
Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website.
This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.
TOP
|
