THE Zimbabwe Human Rights Commission (ZHRC) has said it will investigate cases of escalating political violence in Harare South.
BY OBEY MANAYITI/MOSES MATENGA
This comes after the MDC-T accused Zanu PF of inciting violence and targeting its members.
On at least three occasions, Zanu PF supporters allegedly pounced on MDC-T supporters, prompting the opposition party to call on its members to retaliate.
ZHRC chairperson, Elasto Mugwadi said although he was not yet aware of the complaint filed by MDC-T, the commission would investigate the disturbances.
“We will investigate any issues involving violation of human rights. We will definitely investigate the matter and if the complaint is filed, we will follow it up,” he said. Mugwadi said even without a formal complaint, the commission was still obliged to dig into such matters.
Recently, ZHRC released a damning report detailing numerous human rights violations allegedly at the hands of Zanu PF officials, including secretary for administration Ignatius Chombo in Hurungwe West ahead of the June by-elections pitting Keith Guzah of Zanu PF and former MP Temba Mliswa.
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The commission also recommended that Commissioner-General of Police Augustine Chihuri immediately investigate the human rights violations in Hurungwe West and ensure that perpetrators of violence face the full wrath of the law. ZHRC said in terms of section 243 1(h) of the Constitution, it is empowered to direct the Commissioner General of Police to investigate cases of human rights violations.
ZHRC also recommended that the Police Service Commission improves the training of police officers in investigating and handling human rights and politically-motivated violence cases, as well as ensuring that police officers act in a non-partisan manner and not to further the interests of any political party.
A former Zanu PF youth leader, Jim Kunaka, who is now with the People First movement, said it was wrong, particularly for youths to be incited by their seniors to engage in violence.
“It is clearly written in the Constitution that everyone has a right to join any political party without any use of violence.
“I have said it before that the violence is not about individuals, but the system. People used to say I was the one using violence, but now am I still there to cause violence? The problem is with the system,” he said in reference to when he was accused of leading a terror group, Chipangano, which fuelled violence in Harare.
“People shouldn’t fight. Youths are busy engaging in violence, but you will not see the senior party officials there. Youths should desist from a culture of violence.”
Kunaka also challenged Zanu PF youth leader, Pupurai Togarepi to publicly condemn violence or else people would start to think he and other party leaders were inciting it.
Meanwhile, police are on high alert in Harare as political temperatures have reached alarming levels following disturbances in Harare South, Mbare and Highfield in the last three days.
Police spokesperson, Senior Assistant Commissioner Charity Charamba refuted accusations that law enforcement agents were only targeting MDC-T supporters.
“Our position as police is we arrest irrespective of who would have committed the crime and we warn people against committing violence,” she said.
