MOVEMENT FOR DEMOCRATIC CHANGE 04 AUGUST 2014 PRESS STATEMENT Issued By Honourable Senator Lilian Timveos, Alternative Minister and Spokesperson for Home Affairs. MDC Registers Outrage Over Attacks On Civilians By Soldiers in Chingwizi and Gutu. The Movement for Democratic Change is deeply concerned about the brutal army and police operations in Chingwizi camp on Sunday 03 August 2014 in which innocent civilians were seriously injured and their donated tents were destroyed. We are shocked and outraged by the use of excessive violence by the ZRP and ZDF operatives against these victims of the Tokwe Mukosi floods. It has been reported for a long time that human rights violations have been taking place at this camp since its inception. However, the events of the past few days call for an official, unbridled inquiry into the unregulated activities of law enforcement officials operating in this camp. In particular, we are horrified by reports that the army burnt down tents donated by NGOs and the United Nations after the Zanu PF government dismally failed to provide such relief. The flood victims from Tokwe Mukosi basin have every right to be frustrated over their situation and the governments failure to act. We dont condone the alleged confrontational attitude by some of the settlers but call for an urgent and swift address of their compensation grievances. Whatever crimes the settlers at Chingwizi are alleged to have committed do not justify such a callous reaction from the authorities. Those allegations must be investigated in a professional way and the culprits be brought to book. But to punish the whole camp for the lawlessness of a few is wholly illegal and inhuman. We condemn the use of torture, beatings and random teargassing of camp dwellers. The MDC demands justice and not retribution or revenge attacks that we have witnessed over the past few days. The MDC would also like to register its outrage and utter contempt over the unwarranted attacks on civilians in Gutu by Zimbabwe Defence Forces soldiers from 4.2 Brigade. The random attacks on people going about their business show that some in our army are not aware of their responsibilities. We expect our army soldiers to uphold public peace and freedom for all, not to undermine it. Only as keepers of public peace in Zimbabwe can they claim to be keepers of global peace through participation in United Nations missions. The level of barbarity demonstrated by the ZDF soldiers in Gutu goes to show that some of our forces lack the basic discipline and training required of all professional soldiers. We deplore those actions by the security forces, where civilians out shopping and socializing and commuters on buses are brutalized. Such level of heartlessness as was seen in Gutu goes against our collective national conscience and demonstrates the worst that can come out of us, which must never be repeated in peace-time Zimbabwe. It boggles the mind that after such systematic terror, there is deafening silence from the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP), with no action being taken on the known perpetrators. It is also shocking that after such senseless events, Defence Forces Headquarters pretend that nothing happened. The powers-that-be act as if this is normal, to the detriment of public safety. The MDC-T demands prosecution of those rogue soldiers from 4.2 Infantry Brigade. We want justice and we demand that it be delivered in a transparemt way. Thank you. Issued by Senator Lilian Timveos, Alternative Minister and Spokesperson for Home Affairs.
Posted on: Mon, 04 Aug 2014 14:49:18 +0000
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