HARARE – President Emmerson Mnangagwa on Wednesday blamed the MDC Alliance over an army massacre in Harare in which soldiers opened fire on protesters angry over delays in announcing presidential election results.
At least six people are feared to have died although police only confirmed three deaths.
Nelson Chamisa, the MDC Alliance leader, said he was “deeply hurt” and his supporters “feel vulnerable in our own country”.
He accused the Zimbabwe Electoral Commission (ZEC) of acting “irrationally” and warned that its bias towards Zanu PF was “prejudicing the peace and security of our country.”
“We hold the MDC Alliance and its whole leadership responsible for this disturbance of national peace which was meant to disrupt the electoral process,” Mnangagwa said on Wednesday evening.
“Equally, we hold the party and its leadership responsible for any loss of life, injury or damage to property that arise from these acts of political violence which they have aided and abetted.”
Reporters noted that his prepared statement contained no condolence message for the families of the dead protesters.
Mnangagwa called on the MDC Alliance leaders to “forthwith remove their violent supporters from the streets so peace returns to our country”, adding: “In asking them to take this necessary step, government is simply reminding them of their duties as responsible political players and as citizens. In any electoral process it is understood that some will win, while others lose, but the ones who lose must never translate their disappointment into hooliganism.”
Chamisa, in a statement read by his spokesperson Nkululeko Sibanda, said Mnangagwa must pull the army off the streets and let police take over.
“We are shocked and saddened by the events in the capital today. This country is for all who live in it. The rights and freedoms of our citizens as enshrined in our constitution are the fundamental basis upon which the relationship between the state and the people are based,” Chamisa said.
“The deployment of soldiers and the regrettable loss of life by unarmed citizens and civilians today is reminiscent with and reminds us of the dark days of the cruel killing of thousands of civilians in Matabeleland and the brutal murder of hundreds of MDC supporters in 2008 following electoral theft.
“Today, we saw the deployment of military tanks and firing of live ammunition on civilians for no apparent reason. Civilians are allowed to demand their rights in a lawful manner. Any disorder may be dealt with by police who are best trained for the maintenance of public order.
“Soldiers are trained to kill during war. We are seriously made to wonder what this means. Are we in war? Are civilians the enemy of the state?”
Chamisa said the loss of lives was “the most painful experience we ever get subjected to”, adding: “We are deeply hurt and feel vulnerable in our own country.”
There was condemnation of ZEC and its handling of the elections. Chamisa said the behaviour of officials since the start of the election cycle had been “inflammatory”, made worse by the failure by ZEC to announce the results of the presidential election which Chamisa says he has won.
“The manner in which ZEC has conducted itself over the last few months and in announcing the results is irrational, inflammatory and frankly dangerous,” he said. “These young people have borne the brunt of poverty and bad governance for a long time and decades, and they rightly yearn for change.
“We condemn in the strongest sense the action that was taken today, there is no justification whatsoever for the brutality we experienced today.
“The idea that protesters are violent is a false narrative that cannot be justified. We urgent Zimbabweans and supporters to exercise their rights with due regard to the law and the rights of other citizens. ZEC has a responsibility to handle elections in a manner that is fair and doesn’t prejudice the peace and security of our country.”
ZEC, which only finished announcing results of the parliamentary elections on Wednesday afternoon following Monday’s vote, said it would announce the results anytime from today, although by law it has up to Saturday.
Home Affairs Minister Obert Mpofu said the military would remain on the streets of Harare until they felt the threat of further protests was gone.
