MLF allegedly plotting to attack polling stations by Staff reporter 2013 July 07 The state controlled Sunday News claims that the secessionist movement, Mthwakazi Liberation Front (MLF), is allegedly planning to throw the harmonised elections set for 31 July into chaos by attacking polling stations in Matabeleland, a region they want separated from the rest of Zimbabwe. This plan is reported to have divided MLF as some members feel disrupting elections would harm their chances of a dialogue with Government - they fear that they will be treated as a terrorist group and charged with treason. Sources within MLF told Sunday News that radical elements of the MLF leadership want to use the attacks, which will be on a low scale, to show the Government that they are serious about the 90 day ultimatum they issued. In May, MLF demanded an audience with the Government and said if the Government does not comply with their requests they would declare war after 90 days. The Government has so far been unmoved by the threats of military action and there is no sign that MLF will be invited for talks. If the Government, specifically President Mugabe, does not meet the secessionist movement to listen to its demands, some members are pushing for the MLF leadership to sanction its militia to use violence during elections in an effort to force the Government to a meeting. MLF is reported to have a ready and most of the attacks are allegedly going to happen in the regions of Matabeleland which the MLF wants to turn into a Mthwakazi Republic. In an interview MLF spokesperson, Mr David Magagula, denied MLF was planning to attack polling stations but said the organisation was urging "Mthwakazians" not to vote. "We are against the elections because we are not part of Zimbabwe and we are not Zimbabweans. But those who want to vote can vote, it is their God given right. As much as we encourage Mthwakazians not to vote we are not going to attack the polling stations because we are a peaceful organisation. We are not scoundrels. We just don’t want our people to endorse the state of Zimbabwe by casting their votes because we are not Zimbabweans. We are against elections in Mthwakazi because the Mthwakazi is not part of Zimbabwe but we will not disturb the elections. "It is not true that we are a violent organisation. MLF is a movement made up of nationalists who want their country back. We want our country retained through peaceful means but we are saying that if those peaceful means are exhausted without a favourable outcome will be left with no choice but to achieve our dream through actions that we see fit. We will be very much happy if there is voter apathy in Mthwakazi because that will send the message to the Government that Mthwakazians are not happy with the occupation of their country," Mr Magagula said. Former MLF secretary general, Mr John Gazi, said he had quit MLF because of the organisation’s desire to cause anarchy in Zimbabwe. "MLF has elements that are out to shed blood. I left because I do not want to be part of that. In the first place I had objected to the distribution of fliers calling for an uprising and I still do. I am still angry because I was arrested because of those fliers. I was then charged with treason which is a grave charge. I am not part of MLF and I am not part of this declaration of war. I don’t want to get arrested tomorrow for something that I do not believe in. I resigned from MLF, yes, I believe in Mthwakazi but I do not believe in the use of violence to achieve our objectives. "May it be known, it is the innocent people who will suffer if polling stations and voters are attacked. We just hope those of us who are involved in the Mthwakazi agenda can engage progressive forces in discussions about the Mthwakazi issue to chart the way forward. All this talk of violence and war just makes the atmosphere more and more intense. There are those who have nothing to lose and it is these elements that are increasingly becoming reckless," said Mr Gazi. He added that the dream of a Mthwakazi republic would be crushed if MLF resorts to violence. "I am a veteran of the armed struggle and if I wanted to be involved in an armed struggle I would have quietly slipped out of the country and joined the others who want war. But that is not my agenda and I don’t adhere to the notion that the liberation of Mthwakazi should come through armed conflict. In fact conflict could see people turning against the idea of Mthwakazi. We want the people on our side. A lot of blood was shed in the past that was enough. Let us talk, fighting is not an option," said Mr Gazi. MLF has to date been seeking to slice Zimbabwe into two equal halves to represent what it claims were the original historic mappings of the country in the late 1800s. The result of that slicing would lead to the creation of a second country named "Mthwakazi" which is about half the size of the present day Zimbabwe plateau.
Posted on: Sun, 07 Jul 2013 16:34:58 +0000
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