MDC calls for professionalism in investigations

By Nehanda Radio On Jun 1, 2011 201

Press Statement by Secretary General Tendai Biti

The MDC has always condemned violence in whatever form. It therefore strongly condemns the violence that took place in Glen View over the weekend leading to the death of a police officer.

We call upon the police to fully investigate this matter. The investigations must be impartial, non- partisan and professional. This is the only way that the true perpetrators of this crime can be brought to book.

Typically, before any investigations could be instituted in this matter, the police through its spokesperson rushed to the national press to blame and condemn the MDC as being responsible for the murder. The MDC totally denies that it was behind this tragedy.

In order to justify their earlier accusations against the MDC, the police started rounding up and detaining all known MDC officials and activists in Glenview. Those arrested have not been allowed access to their lawyers. We now have it on good authority that some of these including Mr. Last Maengahama have been brutally assaulted and are being denied medical treatment.

It is clear that some Zanu PF elements in the police are using this unfortunate incident to try to convince SADC that MDC is a violent Party. Our own investigations have revealed that the police officers in question had a fight with patrons at a beer hall following which the late officer was injured. We call upon the police to look at such things as the relationship between the deceased officer and the members of the public in that area.

We reiterate that police must deal decisively in terms of the law with all perpetrators of violence including those who murdered the likes of Tonderai Ndira, Better Chokururama, Godfrey Kauzani and other victims of state sponsored violence. Some Zanu PF elements in the police want to use this unfortunate incident to divert the impending SADC Summit from the real issues.

However, the MDC expects SADC to endorse the very important resolutions of the Organ on Politics, Defence and Security Cooperation that was held in Livingstone, Zambia on 31 March 2011. As we have always said before, we are ready for free and fair elections based on a clear roadmap that is underwritten by SADC and the AU. The roadmap must have specific timelines and benchmarks.

As part of the roadmap, we call upon the parties to undertake serious security sector reforms in view of the partisan behaviour of some of the security forces.

Our position has been vindicated by the statements that were made last week by Brigadier General Douglas Nyikayaramba, a senior military official, calling for an election this year and his declaration Robert Mugabe as the winner before the polls even take place.

The MDC will call upon the SADC to help end all state – sponsored violence in Zimbabwe. It is this state sponsored violence that poses the greatest threat to peace and tranquillity in Zimbabwe.