Zimbabweans must exercise right to self-defence

Statements — By on October 20, 2010 1:42 pm

Zimbabwean law excuses acts of aggression committed in defence of oneself provided one can show that an attack was imminent and that they acted with rationality in averting it.

Apparently President Robert Mugabe’s call for ‘acceleration of pace’ has been understood by some within his party to mean, correctly or incorrectly, acceleration of violence- and they are not wasting any time.

Our team visited Epworth yesterday afternoon and spoke to hundreds of residents there. Their narration of prevailing disturbances was overwhelmingly one-sided. A visibly shocked woman in her late 70s explained that groups of ‘scary thugs have savagely and indiscriminately been ordering residents to acquire ZANU PF membership cards in anticipation of possible elections next year.

Perceived opposition supporters have allegedly been brutally assaulted for refusing to heed the thugs’ persistent calls. According to an Epworth resident who asked not to be named for fear of victimisation, sanctions ranged from severe beatings with intent to cause grievous bodily harm, summary evictions to abductions. As it stands, the whereabouts of at least five residents of Epworth, all of them last seen over a week ago, remain unascertainable.

And this is just 8 months before possible elections. In all probability the trend will worsen with each passing day. In all likelihood the perpetrators will enjoy impunity yet again.

In circumstances such as these we ordinarily plead with the inclusive government to keep watch and to take decisive action in the hope that doing so will serve as a crucial disincentive to would-be perpetrators. But then there is no unity in the unity government. ZANU PF still very much controls the machinery of violence.

Consequently, the Union for Sustainable Democracy calls not just on the inclusive government to do everything possible to deal unsparingly and decisively with those responsible for sowing seeds of intolerance and violence in this country- but also on the citizens of Zimbabwe to be vigilant enough and indeed to defend themselves against violators of their rights. 

Zimbabweans have a legal entitlement to defend themselves from all forms of aggression and it is high time they exercised it to the greatest extent possible. Going forward, ZANU PF thugs need to appreciate that when they visit people at their homes with the intention to attack them they will find them ready to defend themselves. It is only fair. Indeed it is entirely legal.

Issued by the Information & Publicity Department
Union for Sustainable Democracy, www.usd.org.zw

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