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NewsDay

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Comment: Eye for an eye not ideal, but . . .

Columnists
The government’s failure to investigate and prosecute killings, torture and politically motivated violence since the 2008 elections is fuelling further human rights violations. The culture of political violence is taking root in Zimbabwean politics. Not that Zimbabwe is not a peace-loving nation — but because politicians are getting ever daring by each day and therefore […]

The government’s failure to investigate and prosecute killings, torture and politically motivated violence since the 2008 elections is fuelling further human rights violations.

The culture of political violence is taking root in Zimbabwean politics. Not that Zimbabwe is not a peace-loving nation — but because politicians are getting ever daring by each day and therefore will do anything to cling on to power.

Hundreds of political activists from Zanu PF opponents have either been maimed or killed for daring to challenge the status quo.

What is worse is that with the formation of the inclusive government, the former ruling party has moved a gear up in demonising its opponents through violence.

As a result, other political parties — the MDC-T included — have devised means of protecting themselves from being bullied.

But for all we know, political violence is bad politics. Why should the electorate be coerced?

This culture of violence has bred perpetual fear, impunity and cycles of violence in Zimbabwe, according to a recent Human Rights Watch report.

The report examined the lack of justice in several illustrative cases of political killings, torture and abductions by State security forces and their allies during and after the presidential election run-off in 2008.

Due to impunity, the MDC-T youth assembly has threatened to retaliate whenever they are attacked presumably by Zanu PF. However, we aver that eye for an eye does not work at all.

But as a nation, we should ask ourselves why the MDC-T youths have chosen that direction.

It is simple — the reason behind this is justice is tilted in favour of Zanu PF. Sadly, the youths made this announcement at a commemoration of the death of one of their slain fellow activists, Tonderai Ndira.

If according to the youths, they will defend themselves, their parents and their party against Zanu PF, who will the former ruling party be fighting for?

We do not support violence against whomsoever, but we must hasten to add, that Zanu PF has invited this. This will mean throwing the country into chaos where political gangs will control the country. Do we really need this?

We call on the government to conduct immediate, credible, impartial, and transparent investigations into serious past human rights abuses and to discipline or prosecute those responsible, regardless of their position or rank.

Surprisingly, in February, police raided a gathering of people watching a video about recent demonstrations in North Africa.

The police arrested everyone in the room, and some people were allegedly assaulted.

The incident is part of a broader pattern of political violence against perceived opponents of President Robert Mugabe and Zanu PF, what with elections anticipated anytime this year.

We are worried because there has been little or no accountability for these crimes.

While the MDC-T has been clamouring for justice to victims of political violence, the government has failed to respond to calls to investigate abuses.

We are concerned because Zanu PF is calling for an election which they likely will contest against themselves as their opponents — MDC-T and MDC-N — and Sadc, itself the guarantor of the inclusive government, are against any election anytime soon.

We believe there has been little progress in setting up effective transitional justice mechanisms to deal with past human rights abuses in the form of the Organ for National Healing.

But, the country is not able to hold free, fair and credible elections until it restores the rule of law and ends impunity for serious human rights abuses.