Government must act on forced evictions in Mazowe

By Kurauone Chihwayi

The lack of action by government on human rights abuses by the First Lady, Grace Mugabe over the violent eviction of scores of families from Arnold Farm in Mazowe recently is very worrying and speaks volumes about the character of the ZANU PF government.

Forced eviction of poor villagers from their dwellings without facilitating an alternative is one of the most pervasive human rights violations a country can endure.

This degree of cruelty by the First Family is shocking and suggests that in its twisted view, the only people that matter are the Mugabes. It is such ruthless and serving actions by the First family, coupled with total impunity, corruption, nepotism and arrogance that have driven this country to its knees.

Sadly Grace Mugabe’s legacy is fast becoming one of tyranny, violence, abuse of power and the inflicting of misery on the already suffering people of this country. She is a true First Lady of Oppression.

That these forced evictions were allowed to take place at all is bad enough, but the lack of action or regard for the evicted families by government highlights a very worrying trend of worsening human rights violations in the country.

MDC calls for an immediate halt of these violent evictions and that the affected villagers’ homes be restored. One would have expected that at the very least Grace Mugabe would have done extensive consultations with the community to find long lasting solutions before tearing their livelihoods apart in such a cruel manner.

The MDC applauds efforts by human rights organisations who or further probing. It is time Zimbabweans refused to have their rights trodden over by a selfish and powerful few.

Kurauone Chihwayi is the spokesman for the MDC led by Welshman Ncube