MDC-T says it is not a terrorist organisation

The Movement for Democratic Change led by Morgan Tsvangirai today said it is not a terrorist organisation. Instead, it said, it is State intelligence operatives that are responsible for the orgy of violence in the country including the burning down of two vehicles, one belonging to the police and the other to the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.

In a statement responding to a story in yesterday’s Sunday Mail which said that the MDC-T was plotting to destabilise the country and was training party youths in paramilitary tactics and urban violence outside the country, the MDC-T said this false report should be dismissed with the utter contempt and disdain that it rightfully deserves.

“If anything, it is the MDC, over the years, that has been the victim of relentless and sustained State-sponsored violence, thuggery and banditry,” the party said.

“Zimbabweans still vividly remember how President Morgan Tsvangirai and other top opposition politicians were brutally assaulted by some rogue Police officers and CIO agents in Harare in March, 2007. So thuggish and brutal was the assault that it eventually forced SADC to urgently intervene in order to resolve the Zimbabwean political crisis and impasse.”

The opposition party accused the ruling Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front of unleashing wanton violence and brutal physical force on peaceful demonstrators.

“On Wednesday, August 25, 2016, the Zimbabwe Republic Police embarked on an orgy of violence in downtown Harare; beating up and vandalizing innocent and peaceful demonstrators who had been embarking on a lawful march led by the MDC Youth Assembly,” it said.

“In the process, some ZANU-PF thugs and CIO agents set alight two motor vehicles belonging to the ZRP and the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation. These ZANU-PF thugs also looted several city shops, including Choppies supermarket that is partly owned by Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko.”

The MDC-T warned the state-controlled media to desist from peddling lies and falsehoods about the party saying that the people of Zimbabwe were watching.

“One of these fine days, all these evil men and women who are violating and thrashing the people's constitutional rights shall be brought to book. That's for sure,” it said.

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