BY THE CHAIRMAN: JULIUS MUTYAMBIZI-DEWA
The death of the ZRP detail to violence is regrettable but this is not new. When I was detained at Central in 2002 I remember police coming and assaulting us as they pleased even though we were harmless and in detention. One of the guys who just seemed to be “in police uniform” said to us when we confronted him “I am a war vet and you guys are in for a fix”. When Temba Temba , a young member of the MDC Youth in Mashonaland East Province had his academic certificates confiscated in 2002 I called police in Marondera and I was told by someone who identified himself as Mudzinganyama that “Iye Themba wenyu iyeye anombodenhereyi: Why does Temba Temba provoke people” and when I let him know that that had nothing to do with police and Temba’s academic certificates he told me that “Ko imimi vaMutyambizi ndimi musingatitye here? And why are you not afraid of us” and when I said I did not fear them because they were not and would never be God he then told me “VaMutyambizi vaMugabe ndisekuru vangu and we will die “tongaring”. Temba Temba wenyu iyeye achagara achirohwa and we don’t need your ZimRights. Edu maRights akakanywa toenda kuMALRIGHTS yekuMalaysia. Mr Mutyambizi I am President Mugabe’s nephew and we will always be in power since death. Temba Temba will always be assaulted and we don’t care about ZimRights because if our own rights are violated we complain to Malaysia Rights”.
It is that attitude which separates the police from the people. It is not a professional force anymore but has become a willing instrument of repression. Yes there are good people serving in the ZRP now. I don’t expect the test for one to be a professional member of the police force to say he supports MDC instead of ZANU PF, no. The police must stay out of politics, they should neither be ZANU PF nor MDC nor ZAPU, MLF nor any political party. The ZRP has not shown that professionalism as an institution. Tonderai Machiridza {Peace be Upon Him] died to police brutality. He was assaulted in Police Custody. Grace Kwinjeh, Sekai Holland, Morgan Tsvangirayi, Tendai Biti, Abel Siwela, Job Sikhala, Lucia Matibenga, Raymond Majongwe, Lovemore Madhuku, Lookout Masuku, Dumiso Dabengwa etc the list is endless of people who are victims of police brutality.
I said it that ZANU PF will one day count their dead. It is no surprise therefore that today a family is again deprived of their loved one in a death that could easily have been avoided. This calls all Zimbabweans to one agenda; the Respect Agenda. The same violence that ZANU PF and the police expose people to can also come to their doorstep. Obvious it is not the ideal situation, it is not the Zimbabwe we want but MDC Youths have the right to defend themselves against police brutality. Already we know it was a disproportionate use of force. Riot Police don't investigate anything they go to a situation to defuse it by the use of force. My experience is that they attend a scene with assault rifles and the history of the ZRP makes people nervous and act as the youth did. MDC has denied that it is their youth who did it but whoever it was THE ACTIONS WERE VERY PROPORTIONATE given the circumstances as it was a legitimate survival tactic that aimed at protecting oneself from a killer police whose sole aim in the past has been to brutally assault and kill ZANU PF opponents. As long as our police behaves like hired rogues and undisciplined party militia propagating an agenda of violence it is regrettable but blood will continue to be shed. Over the years the police have failed to connect with the people. As an institution the police is yet to convince people of their impartiality in politics.
Zimbabwe is a country full of victims of repression whose quest for justice continues to be denied. This is dangerous given that denying people the formal justice will lead them towards the informal path to obtain justice which will be the retributive path. We are creating a country where so many are developing insatiable appetites for revenge. We have created a general populace that views the Security Apparatus with mistrust. During the liberation struggle our two liberation armies relied upon the masses for cover. Is it still the same? Will our security rely on the masses in any event now? This calls for the reform of the Security Apparatus and politicians should be responsible enough to ask for it. The fact that ZANU PF, which benefits from the brutality of the police is not willing to see them reformed shows how determined politicians are to shift the blame of their own deeds on members of the Security in the future.
Every politician in ZANU PF is aware of the accountability of the individual for crimes against humanity in the current legal discourse and therefore their insistence that the Security continues to behave the same way is to block their own culpability which will never arise as long as they can say: “Well if it was the security ask them why they did it, have you ever seen me carrying any weapons? “ Yet to the naive men who are members of our security they mislead them by saying: “Do it in my name, the trouble is mine not yours!” I am challenging politicians to act responsibly and ensure that the Police becomes a police for the people. It is irresponsible that ZANU PF has over the years forced leaders of our security to first shout allegiance to them so that they propelled them to ranks they would have deserved anywhere.
Why did it have to be a precondition that they would serve the interests of the party when most of them had already served during the liberation struggle? ZANU PF politicians continue to demean and humiliate the same liberation fighters and their leaders who they immediately abandoned in 1980 and did not fight their cause to get good ZNA and Air Force jobs preferring the few who “qualified” to only join the infantry despite that they had already fought to bring independence. Others such as ZRP Commissioner Chihuri were totally abandoned and had to join ZRP on their own merit. It is the same ZANU PF leadership that also systematically refused to give them ministerial appointments and it took an “error” for them to even be considered for burial at Heroes Acre. Chihombe Madala “Peace Be Upon Him” was denied such honour as politicians thought the place was for them only. As if that is not enough ZANU PF politicians are telling people who never enjoyed their youth as they gave up their adolescence, teen life and young adulthood to fighting Ian Smith and UDI in the Bush the lie that the same adversary who made lose that precious part of their life is returning when they know too well that those are pure lies. With that in mind anyone who has fought in a war becomes paranoid and all this is the deed of unscrupulous ZANU PF politicians.
Let this be an eye opener. This is the legacy that ZANU PF will leave on Zimbabwe, a legacy of death and murder. As a party that has in the past contributed immensely and selflessly to the independence cause they should be acting responsibly and leading the way in ensuring reforms of the security rather than being the organisation that does the gate-keeping. Institutional Reform should lead the way in directing Zimbabwe on a permanent path to progress. It will be backed by Justice Before Reconciliation to end this culture of violence and the inherent collateral of retribution and immerse us permanently into sustainable growth. As a pressure group Communities Point will continue to engage and will be happy to be involved in any processes that brings a better Zimbabwe to our current and future generations.
Thank you and May GOD BLESS ZIMBABWE!
.www.communitiespoint.com or mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or Julius.mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or 00447529705413 OR 07401182271
The death of the ZRP detail to violence is regrettable but this is not new. When I was detained at Central in 2002 I remember police coming and assaulting us as they pleased even though we were harmless and in detention. One of the guys who just seemed to be “in police uniform” said to us when we confronted him “I am a war vet and you guys are in for a fix”. When Temba Temba , a young member of the MDC Youth in Mashonaland East Province had his academic certificates confiscated in 2002 I called police in Marondera and I was told by someone who identified himself as Mudzinganyama that “Iye Themba wenyu iyeye anombodenhereyi: Why does Temba Temba provoke people” and when I let him know that that had nothing to do with police and Temba’s academic certificates he told me that “Ko imimi vaMutyambizi ndimi musingatitye here? And why are you not afraid of us” and when I said I did not fear them because they were not and would never be God he then told me “VaMutyambizi vaMugabe ndisekuru vangu and we will die “tongaring”. Temba Temba wenyu iyeye achagara achirohwa and we don’t need your ZimRights. Edu maRights akakanywa toenda kuMALRIGHTS yekuMalaysia. Mr Mutyambizi I am President Mugabe’s nephew and we will always be in power since death. Temba Temba will always be assaulted and we don’t care about ZimRights because if our own rights are violated we complain to Malaysia Rights”.
It is that attitude which separates the police from the people. It is not a professional force anymore but has become a willing instrument of repression. Yes there are good people serving in the ZRP now. I don’t expect the test for one to be a professional member of the police force to say he supports MDC instead of ZANU PF, no. The police must stay out of politics, they should neither be ZANU PF nor MDC nor ZAPU, MLF nor any political party. The ZRP has not shown that professionalism as an institution. Tonderai Machiridza {Peace be Upon Him] died to police brutality. He was assaulted in Police Custody. Grace Kwinjeh, Sekai Holland, Morgan Tsvangirayi, Tendai Biti, Abel Siwela, Job Sikhala, Lucia Matibenga, Raymond Majongwe, Lovemore Madhuku, Lookout Masuku, Dumiso Dabengwa etc the list is endless of people who are victims of police brutality.
I said it that ZANU PF will one day count their dead. It is no surprise therefore that today a family is again deprived of their loved one in a death that could easily have been avoided. This calls all Zimbabweans to one agenda; the Respect Agenda. The same violence that ZANU PF and the police expose people to can also come to their doorstep. Obvious it is not the ideal situation, it is not the Zimbabwe we want but MDC Youths have the right to defend themselves against police brutality. Already we know it was a disproportionate use of force. Riot Police don't investigate anything they go to a situation to defuse it by the use of force. My experience is that they attend a scene with assault rifles and the history of the ZRP makes people nervous and act as the youth did. MDC has denied that it is their youth who did it but whoever it was THE ACTIONS WERE VERY PROPORTIONATE given the circumstances as it was a legitimate survival tactic that aimed at protecting oneself from a killer police whose sole aim in the past has been to brutally assault and kill ZANU PF opponents. As long as our police behaves like hired rogues and undisciplined party militia propagating an agenda of violence it is regrettable but blood will continue to be shed. Over the years the police have failed to connect with the people. As an institution the police is yet to convince people of their impartiality in politics.
Zimbabwe is a country full of victims of repression whose quest for justice continues to be denied. This is dangerous given that denying people the formal justice will lead them towards the informal path to obtain justice which will be the retributive path. We are creating a country where so many are developing insatiable appetites for revenge. We have created a general populace that views the Security Apparatus with mistrust. During the liberation struggle our two liberation armies relied upon the masses for cover. Is it still the same? Will our security rely on the masses in any event now? This calls for the reform of the Security Apparatus and politicians should be responsible enough to ask for it. The fact that ZANU PF, which benefits from the brutality of the police is not willing to see them reformed shows how determined politicians are to shift the blame of their own deeds on members of the Security in the future.
Every politician in ZANU PF is aware of the accountability of the individual for crimes against humanity in the current legal discourse and therefore their insistence that the Security continues to behave the same way is to block their own culpability which will never arise as long as they can say: “Well if it was the security ask them why they did it, have you ever seen me carrying any weapons? “ Yet to the naive men who are members of our security they mislead them by saying: “Do it in my name, the trouble is mine not yours!” I am challenging politicians to act responsibly and ensure that the Police becomes a police for the people. It is irresponsible that ZANU PF has over the years forced leaders of our security to first shout allegiance to them so that they propelled them to ranks they would have deserved anywhere.
Why did it have to be a precondition that they would serve the interests of the party when most of them had already served during the liberation struggle? ZANU PF politicians continue to demean and humiliate the same liberation fighters and their leaders who they immediately abandoned in 1980 and did not fight their cause to get good ZNA and Air Force jobs preferring the few who “qualified” to only join the infantry despite that they had already fought to bring independence. Others such as ZRP Commissioner Chihuri were totally abandoned and had to join ZRP on their own merit. It is the same ZANU PF leadership that also systematically refused to give them ministerial appointments and it took an “error” for them to even be considered for burial at Heroes Acre. Chihombe Madala “Peace Be Upon Him” was denied such honour as politicians thought the place was for them only. As if that is not enough ZANU PF politicians are telling people who never enjoyed their youth as they gave up their adolescence, teen life and young adulthood to fighting Ian Smith and UDI in the Bush the lie that the same adversary who made lose that precious part of their life is returning when they know too well that those are pure lies. With that in mind anyone who has fought in a war becomes paranoid and all this is the deed of unscrupulous ZANU PF politicians.
Let this be an eye opener. This is the legacy that ZANU PF will leave on Zimbabwe, a legacy of death and murder. As a party that has in the past contributed immensely and selflessly to the independence cause they should be acting responsibly and leading the way in ensuring reforms of the security rather than being the organisation that does the gate-keeping. Institutional Reform should lead the way in directing Zimbabwe on a permanent path to progress. It will be backed by Justice Before Reconciliation to end this culture of violence and the inherent collateral of retribution and immerse us permanently into sustainable growth. As a pressure group Communities Point will continue to engage and will be happy to be involved in any processes that brings a better Zimbabwe to our current and future generations.
Thank you and May GOD BLESS ZIMBABWE!
.www.communitiespoint.com or mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or Julius.mutyambizidewa@yahoo.co.uk or 00447529705413 OR 07401182271
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