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MDC commemorates 11 March 2007
Movement for Democratic Change (MDC)
March 13, 2012

It is now five years since the historic event on 11 March 2007 when Zanu PF and the police disrupted a peace prayer meeting at Zimbabwe Grounds in Highfield that sadly led to death of an MDC youth member, Gift Tandare.

On this day in 2007, heavily armed riot police disrupted a peaceful prayer meeting that was organised by the Save Zimbabwe Campaign. Thousands of people who were on their way to the grounds were turned away.

Tandare, an MDC Youth Assembly activist was shot in cold blood by the police and instantly died.

The MDC leadership including President Tsvangirai and other civic society members were severely assaulted inside Machipisa Police Station.

11 March will remain a black day but one which has to be celebrated and remembered by the MDC and other progressive forces because it greatly altered Zimbabwe's political landscape.

The incident of 11 March 2007 showcased to the world the brutality of the Zanu PF regime and as a result, an African Union extra-ordinary summit on Zimbabwe was held in Dar-es-Salaam, Tanzania. This Summit resulted in the brokering of the first series of serious negotiations to resolve the crisis in Zimbabwe.

The day will always remain in the hearts and minds of all the innocent people who have been subjected to Zanu PF's brutality and utter disregard for basic human rights.

11 March will forever be the MDC's Human Rights Day. It is the day that changed the lives of Zimbabweans and saw the beginning of the downward spiral of Zanu PF to its grave.

May Tandare's soul and the souls of those of thousands others whose sacred blood has been spilled in the struggle for real change, rest in peace and continue to inspire the revolution for real change.

As we reflect five years on, let us all soldier on until Zimbabwe is free again. All Zimbabweans should join hands and celebrate the importance of this day.

We are however, worried that as we celebrate this day, there is an increase in political violence.

On Saturday, armed anti-riot police stood by as youths from the Zanu PF's Chipangano attacked MDC members who had gathered for a Harare province peace rally in Sunningdale.

We condemn such acts as they derail the spirit of non-violence that our political leadership is preaching at every gathering.

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