via ‘Intra-party fighting intensifying in MDC-T, Zanu PF ’ – NewsDay Zimbabwe July 18, 2014 by Phyllis Mbanje
INTRA-PARTY fighting within the MDC-T and Zanu PF is intensifying ahead of the two parties’ respective congresses in October and December, the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP) has said.
In its latest report based on information from long-term community-based human rights monitors, ZPP said both parties had experienced intra-party violence in all provinces.
For the MDC-T, there has been internal fighting as the faction led by party president Morgan Tsvangirai has moved to meet the structures while the faction led by “axed” secretary-general Tendai Biti has been doing the same, pushing for the renewal agenda.
“The internal fighting within Zanu PF was exposed when President Robert Mugabe openly disclosed that there were weevils that were bent on destroying the party from within,” the report reads.
Mugabe made the utterances while addressing mourners at former minister Nathan Shamuyarira’s burial at the National Heroes’ Acre, where he also said Zanu PF had been infiltrated.
“Not to be outdone, while addressing party youths in Mutare, Didymus Mutasa who is Presidential Affairs minister, allegedly urged Zanu PF members to use ‘gamatox to kill the weevils’,” ZPP said.
The statement by Mutasa culminated in the arrest of Sunday Mail editor Edmund Kudzayi who is accused of running the shadowy Baba Jukwa Facebook page.
While internal fights have been increasing, there has been a marked decline in the number of politically motivated human rights violations, with only 188 recorded compared to 217 cases witnessed in May.
These included incidents of covert harassment, intimidation, assaults, displacement and discrimination.
However, in Mashonaland East and Central provinces, ZPP said there has been a slight increase in the number of politically motivated incidents in the month under review. The violations recorded included harassment, intimidation and discrimination based on political intolerance among community members.
In Mashonaland East, the operating environment has been described as tense and intimidating, especially for opposition party members, with some being forced to remove their party regalia.
“They face victimisation from both Zanu PF members and the police,” ZPP said.
The ZPP was conceived shortly after 2000 by a group of churches and non-governmental organsations working or interested in human rights and peace building initiatives.
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