Zanu PF learnt the techniques of crushing opposition parties from China during the liberation war, the Welshman Ncube-led MDC has said.
Report by Nqobani Ndlovu
Addressing an All-Stakeholders’ Building Conference in Nkayi last Thursday, MDC secretary for policy, strategy and implementation Joshua Mhambi said Zanu PF was still mired in the liberation war mentality, hence its dislike of opposition parties. “The reason why we have this problem of violence and repression in this country is that the people who helped Zanu PF during the liberation war do not know any values about democracy,” he said. “China does not believe in democracy. Its ideology is about indoctrination and subjugation to force people to toe the line and that is exactly what Zanu PF has been doing. Zanu PF is an offshoot of this Chinese system.”
The conference was organised by the Church and Civil Society Form and was attended by traditional leaders, political party leaders, police and officials from the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee. Mhambi said Zanu PF had not transformed from being a liberation war movement into a political party. “Zanu PF is a victim of the liberation war mentality where the opposition and opposing views are met with violence, annihilation and injustices,” he said. “Zimbabwe has been held hostage by this mentality of the gun being the security officer and the guarantor of the regime. Efforts to achieve peace are affected by this mentality.” Zanu PF spokesperson Rugare Gumbo declined to comment over the claims, saying he was attending a meeting. Representatives of the two MDCs and Zapu said their parties were committed to peace. “We are committed to peace and all peace-building initiatives in this country as we have done in the past,” said Abednico Bhebhe, the MDC-T’s deputy organising secretary. “We entered this unity government out of a need to finding peace and ending a reign of terror.” “We are committed to ensuring peace before, during and after the elections.” Mhambi said his party was “guided by tolerance, consensus and diversity”.
