MDC-T says ZANU-PF and the police are bigger threat to national security than citizens

The Movement for Democratic Change-Tsvangirai today said the Zimbabwe African National Union-Patriotic Front and the police are a bigger threat to national security than ordinary citizens that are currently demonstrating against the government of President Robert Mugabe.

In a statement today, MDC-T shadow Minister for Home Affairs, Giles Mutsekwa, who was Minister of Home Affairs during the inclusive government, said the biggest security threat was the continued stay in office of Mugabe himself.

He accused the police and ZANU-PF youths of fuelling violence during yesterday’s mass stay-away, which the government and the police have brushed off.

People have been demonstrating against new measures to curb imports of basic commodities, delay in salaries for civil servants and the heavy presence of police on the country’s roads.

“It was the police themselves that were provoking people by unleashing dogs and throwing tear smoke on innocent Zimbabweans, in the process worsening an already volatile situation,” Mutsekwa said.

“We are also reliably informed that some ZANU-PF youths are being supplied with police uniforms and causing mayhem.  The behavior of the police and their use of brute force was in itself an incitement to violence on an otherwise peaceful citizenry constitutionally expressing itself.

“It is the State security agents, in particular the police that are a security threat judging by the indiscriminate and ill-timed behavior of swooping into residential areas, unleashing dogs, throwing tear gas and beating up people. This is very provocative behavior that can easily worsen an already volatile situation. In any case, the biggest security threat is the continued stay in office by Mugabe himself.”

Mutsekwa also castigated Local Government Minister and ZANU-PF political commissar Saviour Kasukuwere for threatening the MDC and other groups for encouraging the stay-away.

“The MDC also notes with concern that the Zanu PF political commissar, Saviour Kasukuwere, gave what he called a ‘warning’ to the MDC and other groupings for exercising their Consitutional right,” he said.

“ Kasukuwere should be mindful that it is ZANU-PF instead that should take seriously the warning given by the innocent citizens of this country who heeded the call for a shut-down to impress upon government to solve the national crisis. 

“Kasukuwere has no mandate to warn anyone, except for him and his colleagues in government to heed the serious warning that came from the people of Zimbabwe.

“He cannot be allowed to play big brother to citizens enjoying their constitutional right and freedom of expression. It is the citizens instead who gave a warning to this clueless party in government to address their concerns or face a bigger deluge.”

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