CIVIC society organisations in Bulawayo on Thursday staged a demonstration demanding an apology from President Robert Mugabe over his statements that the Kalanga people were uneducated and responsible for petty crimes in South Africa.
LUYANDUHLOBO MAKWATI
The organisations demanded answers from the Minister of State for Provincial Affairs Sandi Moyo and from the Zimbabwe Human Right Commission (ZHRC).
The demo, organised by Bulawayo Agenda, saw more than 34 civic organisations and ordinary citizens taking part.
Organisations petitioned the ZHRC to fulfil its mandate by taking action against Mugabe over his statements about Kalanga people and the people of Matabeleland South as a whole.
“Mugabe statements were very inflammatory,” Bulawayo Agenda director, Mmeli Dube said.
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“We are calling upon the human rights commission to stand for the people of Matabeleland South and act against the President for his statements.
“He Mugabe violated the constitution and we demand that he be investigated.”
From ZRHC offices, the march proceeded to Mhlahlandlela Government Complex, where demonstrators waved placards denouncing Mugabe’s rule.
A petition, to be forwarded to Mugabe, was sent to Sandi-Moyo’s office.
“We sent the petition to her since she is the representative of the President, she must talk to her superior,” Dube said.
(Pictures by Butho Nyathi)
