MDC-T: Zimbabwe Police Chief Must Resign Before 2013 Polls
Thomas Chiripasi
HARARE —
The Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) formation of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai has renewed its calls for Police Commissioner General Augustine Chihuri to quit his post saying he would not be able to ensure that the forthcoming crucial general elections are peaceful.
MDC-T spokesman Douglas Mwonzora told VOA Studio 7 that the police commissioner general will not be able to deal with issues of political violence ahead of fresh polls expected to be held sometime this year because of his links with Zanu PF.
Chihuri has openly declared that he is an apologist of President Robert Mugabe's party while Mr. Mugabe and some top officials of his party have said there was nothing wrong with securocrats openly supporting political parties of their choice while still in office.
The MDC-T’s demand follows calls by President Mugabe during independence celebrations Thursday for the police to ensure that there is peace during the forthcoming elections.
Mr. Mugabe urged police to arrest all perpetrators of political violence.
However, Mr. Mwonzora said peace in the pending elections can only be achieved if the police commissioner general resigned and is replaced by a non-partisan individual.
The MDC-T says credible elections are critical for Zimbabwe at this stage after disputed polls of June 2008 forced President Mugabe to form a coalition with Mr. Tsvangirai.
Mr. Mwonzora also took a swipe at Zanu PF political commissar and the country's Information Minister Webster Shamu who told an independence rally at the National Sports Stadium Thursday that results of an election will not necessarily reflect who will lead the country.
Mr. Shamu said Zimbabwe got its independence through the barrel of the gun, adding that former freedom fighters will not allow anyone without war credentials to lead the country.
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Report Filed By Thomas Chiripasi
Meanwhile, the Tsvangirai MDC says it is worried about voter registration which they say is skewed to help President Robert Mugabe’s Zanu-PF party ahead of this year’s national elections.
Mbizvo lawmaker Settlement Chikwinya told VOA Studio 7 most youths are finding it difficult to get identity documents needed to register as voters.
He said his constituency is targeting 12,000 new voters but the process is littered with obstacles.
