

ZRP: Arrest of a Member of the Zimbabwe Republic Police for Misconduct as Shown in the Video by Sky News (29.01.2019)







shutdown protest. And for as long as people’s survival problems are not addressed the false “return to normalcy” and “calm”, will not last. Indeed, what we have seen so far may turn out to only be the lightning announcing the thunder that will come.
It is with this background that we reiterate our calls for a broad-based, inclusive national dialogue as a matter of urgency and pronounce ourselves on the following:
Conditions for dialogue
We welcome the emerging resonance around the need for national dialogue and particularly note calls that have come from the churches, business, the NPRC, the Movement for Democratic Change-Alliance, and most recently, President Mnangagwa. We also note that The Elders in their most recent statement made a call for inclusive national dialogue.
We believe that dialogue will only be meaningful under the right conditions which include:
● the immediate cessation of the clampdown against civil society and activists;
● the return of the military to barracks;
● freedom for all innocent political, civic and ordinary citizens who were arrested
without cause;
● due process for all those accused of crimes; accountability for the security forces who commitment crimes;
● and security and safety guarantees to all those driven into hiding.
Composition of the dialogue
An inclusive national dialogue is imperative given the diversity and magnitude of the problems facing our country. The repository for solutions goes beyond political parties requiring the participation of all relevant constituencies, including business, churches, women, youth, civil society and indeed political parties to enable co-creation of solutions that work for all.
Facilitation
Given the reality of extreme political polarization in our country, we believe that the political facilitation of the dialogue must be led by a capable, high level, respected African statesman/ stateswoman acceptable to all, with SADC and the AU as guarantors.
Furthermore, we believe that the dialogue must be technically supported by a competent civic institution with proven capacity to steward such a complex national process towards agreeable outcomes.
Purpose of the dialogue
The inclusive national dialogue that we are calling for, should be about dealing with substantive issues that are central to resetting our country onto a viable path to reconstruction and development. From our perspective, the priority should be on repairing the economy and securing decent livelihoods for the generality of Zimbabweans; guaranteeing justice for victims of political violence; creating conditions to restore social
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cohesion and national healing and rebuilding the institutions necessary to underpin a prosperous democratic country founded on social and economic justice.
It is particularly important the place the following issues on the agenda of the envisaged national dialogue:
Outcomes
We believe that the dialogue must produce a framework that allows for collective and competent attention to the most pressing challenges affecting people and reset the country onto a viable reconstruction and development path. The form and content of such a framework cannot be prescribed in advance, rather it has to be a product of dialogue.
Our call for civil society consultations
As the chorus for national dialogue grows, we make a call and equally make ourselves available for collective civil society consultations and consensus building on the conditions, vision, principles, composition, facilitation, agenda and possible outcomes of the envisioned national dialogue. We believe these wider consultations must commence in earnest and reflect truly broad-based and inclusive participation.
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//END




I got to ask, even if I don’t have any answers. As the depressing news and verified information is leaking from Zimbabwe. The days of the Shutdown, the dire straits. Some say it is propaganda and others trying to deflect it. Others saying the authorities are not at fault and others blame the MDC Alliance.
Whatever it is, it has been ordered from the “Above High”, the ones ushering in the violence, the killings, the arrests, abductions and the destruction of society. Comes from somewhere. The acts of aggression against civilians, the acts of arresting and detaining the fellow civil society leaders, either activists or union leaders. They have all been taken into custody and put on trial. They have all been silenced, like the Social Media, the Internet Blockade and other acts to stifle the voices of dissidents. So, that the President, the ZANU-PF and the Authorities could control the information flow.
However, that has not worked. Therefore, the acts against MDC is shown to the world, the way the authorities have picked up Union Leaders of late. Also, detaining other Civil Society Organizations leaders and activists, who have been targeted by the government.
Also, the other realities is the leaked footage of rape and the beatings of civilians. This has been shown to the world. The atrocities have been told now, the world has seen the sinister acts of the government against its own.
While, that is happening, the road-blocks, the destruction of markers within Harare and so on. There are so many bad things happening. It is hard to follow. Worse to verify, while the leaked footage are showing what sort of tools the government are using.
As President Emmerson Mnangagwa can stop this, as Vice-President Constantino Chiwenga can order this to stop. That is if they want this circle of destruction and sinister acts to stop. However, after two weeks of evil and of murky acts, which no government should do towards their own or anyone else for that matter. They are using rape, violence and fear against the civilians. As they we’re starting to demonstrate against skyrocketing prices on fuel overnight.
What is your game-plan now? Are you planning together with the PFee to destroy more people lives and show more sinister violence against them? Are this the legacy, the proud moment of your rule to deplete society? Is that why you wanted to takeover for Mugabe so you could repeat Gukurahundi of the 1980s. Then was to assault the ones who was behind Joshua Nkomo, now the same leadership are attacking the ones who are in and around Nelson Chamisa. Only him whose out of the spotlight for now.
What the world has seen is that the Crocodile and his henchmen bites. They bite so hard and muffle with the public. Mnangagwa and Chiwenga could have handled these demonstrations differently. However, you decided to do this.
As President and Vice-President, you could have handled this differently. Instead you used the soldiers, police and people are hiding from the law in fear of being haunted down like fellow comrades. That is the society the shutdown and PFee wants to have. They are using force and usign all means to stop them. This is not reforming, but an armed military dictatorship with no mercy.
Mr. President, what is your game-plan now?
Will you play PR Games? Or will you act sensible?
Because, right now, as the beginning of the Shutdown, the Republic is burning, people are getting hurt. People are getting touched by association or being in the wrong place at the wrong time. The authorities instead of guarding the public, they are punishing them. For voicing the frustration at the economic and financial mismanagement done by the PFee for years. Instead of finding solutions to it. The government sent weapons and assaulted the population.
Is that all your made of Mr. President, is that all you are? You are such a weak man, that cannot build anything, but only destroy? Is that who you are?
Because it looks like it and your game plan, suuuuuucks! Peace.




The Southern Africa Litigation Centre (SALC) is concerned with reports of serious human rights violations and commission of atrocities by the police forces, government armed forces and ZANU PF members in Zimbabwe since Monday 14 January. Following country wide protests to the hiking of fuel prices in the country, the government’s response towards the protests has been systematic, widespread and disproportionately brutal against its own citizens.
SALC has received credible reports that the police, government security forces and members of the ZANU PF have been using live ammunition against its own citizens who have been peacefully protesting in exercise of their rights under the Constitution. There are credible reports that doctors have treated 78 confirmed cases of gunshot wounds. There are also confirmed reports that the Police and government security forces continue to use lethal force against citizens in various Harare neighbourhoods, including Mbare, Glenview, Kuwadzana, and Chitungwiza. There is strong evidence suggesting that torture, extrajudicial killings intimidation, raids on homes for suspected leaders of the protesters, indiscriminate traffic stops, displacement and arbitrary detentions are taking place on a daily basis in the country. All these atrocities are being committed by the Police, government security forces and members of ZANU PF. There are also reports suggesting that wounded victims are being detained while they are in hospitals and taken to custody.
In addition to the above gross human rights violations, there are reports that to those who have been indiscriminately detained, access to legal representation has been denied by the authorities contrary to the country’s constitution. There are also reports of cases where detained suspects have seen their cases fast tracked with no access to legal representation.
These reports point towards gross human rights violations and raise serious concerns that Zimbabwe government officials are committing serious international crimes including torture and crimes against humanity. The commission of international crimes against the civilian population constitutes a serious violation of international law. The list of criminal conduct that constitutes crimes against humanity include murder, torture, rape, and imprisonment or other severe deprivation of physical liberty in violation of fundamental rules of international law. Zimbabwe has an international obligation to investigate and prosecute the crimes committed by the police, government security forces and ZANU PF officials against its citizens.
Should Zimbabwe take no steps towards fulfilling its obligation, the international community has an obligation to intervene in order to hold those responsible for the commission of the crimes accountable. In South Africa, this obligation was recognized by the Constitutional Court of South Africa through the National Commissioner of The South African Police Service v Southern Africa Human Rights Litigation Centre and Another (The Zimbabwe Torture Docket) decision. In that decision, the Constitutional Court held that national competent authorities including the SAPS and the NPA have an obligation to investigate acts of torture and crimes against humanity committed in Zimbabwe. The court also held that this obligation extends to the prosecution of suspected offenders who are found in South Africa, be it on a temporary basis or not, even though the crimes were committed in Zimbabwe .
As a regional body that strives to hold governments accountable for the commission of international crimes including acts of torture and crimes against humanity, SALC reiterates its position that it will take steps towards holding those individuals who are committing the crimes in Zimbabwe. SALC, therefore, calls upon the Government of Zimbabwe to investigate the crimes that are being committed against the civilian population by the police, government armed forces and ZANU PF members including acts of torture, murder, and crimes against humanity and those found responsible must be prosecuted. Should the government of Zimbabwe fail to investigate and prosecute suspected offenders, SALC will not stand by, but take steps towards holding those responsible for the commission of the crimes accountable. We call on the African Union, Southern Africa Development Community and their governments to take action, and ensure that those who violate human rights are held accountable.




I know that this should be a day of celebration. It is supposed to be, because there been a sort of peaceful transition in the Democratic Republic of Congo. In any fashion, that should be elevated and put a smirk on your face. However, with the instance of the 30th December 2018 Elections, there are to many open wounds and lack of transparent counting, announcing and also acceptance of the results from the Constitutional Court. To be able to throw the information away and forget it. That because of the lingering speculation of the inside deals between CACH and former President Joseph Kabila.
That is why I don’t celebrate the inauguration of Felix Tshisekedi on this 24th January 2019. Even if it as peaceful transition. Because it is a lie. It is a fraud. It is not a electoral victory. It is a pyrrhic victory. President Tshisekedi isn’t the first one with this issue. It is becoming a bit to common. That certain elections are like this, where the whole election are made to ensure a certain result and if not. There will be problems after, prolonged time for announcing the results and media/social media /internet blackout. While the Nation is awaiting the final results and plan the inauguration. This has happen so many places.
That is why Nelson Chamisa claimed to be the winner in 2018. He claimed to have won the popular vote and that the ruling regime had rigged the results in favour of Emmerson Mnangagwa. Therefore, the President could continue and we see today, what a party does with the guns against the people. As the Zimbabwean Ruling Party uses all tools to oppress, because they don’t respect the will of the people.
That is why Raila Odinga claimed to be the People’s President in 2017. As he claimed to have won and that the Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) rigged the Fresh Presidential Elections in 2017 so that President Uhuru Kenyatta could have his second term.
That is why Dr. Kizza Besigye in 2016 claimed to be the victor in the General Elections of 2016. This is after the famous Kiggundu Math of the Electoral Commission and sudden victory of the 5th Official Presidential Term of President Yoweri Kaguta Museveni (who I claim is on his seventh).
The same can be said about several other elections, where the opposition has claimed victory. Where they have been rigged away and been thrown in the wind. That is why the leaders can run wild. They can acts as they please, just paying of the ones who stands in their way. The leaders can use their ways, as they are rigged into power. They are just using the elections as a way to be legitimate, but not representing the public. That is a trick. They are tricking the world, using the ballots as a weapon. Not using it to represent them.
Therefore, Tshisekedi are now doing to Lamuka’s Presidential Candidate Martin Fayulu, what Kenyatta, Museveni did to their opposition. They have cheated the ones who could lead and run their republic on the trust of the people, not altered results to fit one paradigm.
So, when these leaders got that position on a lie, on a fake result and without being truly representative of the people. That is why they can live after the saying, Taxation without Representation. As they can tax the public, but not represent them. They can be a sort of colonial entity, who is within society and be the public, but in the end it will not represent the people. It takes it money, but doesn’t have to provide government programs. Other than some PR Stunts and Display of it, somehow. Because, they are only acting and not actually doing.
These leaders are doing it and will continue to be self-serving, they where selected in by any means. Rigging the ballots, rigging the Electoral Commission and ensuring one result to get them in. They didn’t get in by the means of the people, but by boiling/cooking the numbers to fit a prefixed narrative, where one person would carry the mantle.
So, when you celebrate Tshisekedi today, when you celebrated Kenyatta or Museveni. You celebrated a pyrrhic victory, you celebrated ghost ballots and algorithms, not the will of the people. Therefore, you can see how Kenyatta and Museveni govern. Don’t expect Tshisekedi to govern differently, he doesn’t represent the public, but the ones who got him there. The deals done in the chambers of power, not what the ballots did say on the 30th December 2018. Just like the 2017 and 2016 rigging did too.
So, please, celebrate, but if the thieving goes on. When the atrocities goes on. When the lack of good governance or transparency from the government. Expect it to continue and be rampant. As the leaders could rig themselves in power, they could take power without the need of people. Therefore, the leaders doesn’t need to serve them or develop it. They can just preoccupied with eating and being Big-Men.
Big-Men who are living by the simple paradigm of taxation without representation. Where the Big-Man lives above the public, where the Big-Man can do whatever and allowed to do, but will tax the public for everything. Because that is the power of the State. Peace.
