by Tawanda Musariri
Former Home Affairs minister, Dr Obert Mpofu says Zanu PF restrained its youths from retaliating the provocations and aspersions aimed at the party on August 1.
Dr Mpofu’s order followed the open war the opposition MDC had declared on Zanu PF following the torching of vehicles, burning the election campaign insignia bearing the images of party president, Cde Emmerson Mnangagwa and a foiled attempt to set the Zanu PF Harare Province office on fire.
Chaimsa is on record saying, “we will not accept any result that falls short of giving us victory, otherwise this country will be on fire.”
Initially their march was sober. Their second round of marching was showing signs of intoxication. The third one was total chaos, said Dr Mpofu, describing the character displayed by the marchers on August 1.
Dr Mpofu testified that "we told our youths to restrain themselves from reacting because it was clearly a provocation on us to react so that the international media would show us in bad light. This is very unfortunate it happened this way. We are a very peaceful country. My party Zanu PF is the most disciplined party. Not in Zimbabwe alone but in the world."
The former Home Affairs minister told the Commission that both Zanu PF and Government had received information from trusted sources at least two days before the demo that the MDC had plans to cause mayhem in the event of electoral loss. This is the exact script that played, the only difference being that it happened before the presidential result was announced. What was clear though was that Zanu PF was winning the election hands down.
The MDC denies having made prior preparations for the demo that turned violent. The party further denies any relations with the marauding demonstrators that damaged property, businesses and burnt down vehicles in town.
"We made sure that we spoke against violence. I went public, on both print and electronic media, local and international media, specifically ENCA and pleaded for peace and calm during the election," said the former minister.
In the absence of the counsel against violence, a clash between the top two parties' youths could have been the foundation of a civil war unfolding today.