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ZIMBABWE: Tit-for-tat violence flares up

HARARE, 23 February 2009 (IRIN) - Political violence, despite the formation of unity government, is picking up in Zimbabwe. In the wake of Morgan Tsvangirai's 11 February inauguration as prime minister, it is being viewed as tit-for-tat aggression.

On 22 February, an IRIN correspondent witnessed running battles between supporters of Tsvangirai's Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) and followers of President Robert Mugabe's ZANU-PF in the working-class suburb of Mbare, in the capital, Harare.

The Mbare violence has its roots in the 2008 eviction of tenants from municipal accommodation for allegedly supporting the MDC during the general election in March. ZANU-PF supporters were then given the accommodation.

Buoyed by the formation of unity government, the MDC supporters - who had lost their homes and property - descended on the new occupants to reclaim their homes, sparking off the violence.

Welshman Ncube, chairperson of the Joint Monitoring and Implementation Committee (JOMIC) established to oversee implementation of the power-sharing deal, told IRIN that numerous reports of "revenge attacks" had been received from across the country.

"Officials from the ministry of home affairs have tabled before us reports that revenge attacks are taking place in Harare, Mashonaland East, Mashonaland Central [provinces in northeastern Zimbabwe], Manicaland [bordering Mozambique], Masvingo [in the southeast] and the Midlands Province," he said.

The MDC has claimed that more than 200 of its supporters were killed between the March and June polls in 2008, which were said to have been orchestrated by security chiefs loyal to Mugabe.

Thousands of people were beaten, raped and displaced, while others had their livestock confiscated and homes razed, the MDC has alleged.

"In many areas it would appear that supporters of the MDC, who were ill-treated by ZANU-PF members, are demanding and implementing their own form of justice. Others are demanding the return of livestock which was confiscated and eaten at ZANU-PF militia torture camps during election campaign," Ncube said.

"Anyone who believes that the law was violated should make a report to the police. Violence and retribution only create more lawlessness, and we are not about retribution."

JOMIC has instructed political commissars and national chairpersons of all parties to speak out against tit-for-tat violence. In Mashonaland Central a senior ZANU-PF official was reportedly in a coma after being attacked by unidentified assailants.

Ahead of his inauguration Tsvangirai said: "In many instances, everywhere I go, some MDC supporters have requested a few minutes to 'deal' with their rivals, but I have called for peace and national healing among Zimbabweans."

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Copyright © IRIN 2009
This material comes to you via IRIN, the humanitarian news and analysis service of the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. The opinions expressed do not necessarily reflect those of the United Nations or its Member States.
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