Supporters of President Mugabe ZANU-PF party are taking over venues where they can detain and brutalise opposition activists, according to a Christian Aid partner in Zimbabwe.
Reverend Jonah Gokova of the Zimbabwe Christian Alliance (ZCA) says the information comes from trusted church sources.
The ZCA plans to document all incidents of violence and intimidation as tensions mount in the country’s post-election crisis.
Responsibility
‘It is our pastoral responsibility to expose all sources and structures of violence,’ said Rev Gokova.
There is growing alarm in Zimbabwe at the increase of violence.
Scores of opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) activists have been assaulted and there are reports of state sponsored violence and farm invasions across the country.
Intimidation
Many Zimbabweans believe the delay in announcing the results of the presidential election, which was held almost two weeks ago, was designed to buy time to organise intimidation.
‘There should be no need for violence,’ said Rev Useni Sibanda, the ZCA’s national coordinator, ‘This is a struggle between the electorate and the government; the people have the right to have their vote heard.’
The ZCA is also holding a a series of prayer meetings and peace rallies across the country.
Prayer
According to Rev Sibanda: ‘The people need a space to make themselves heard, we want to give them an alternative to taking to the streets.’
The first prayer meeting was held on Friday, 11 April in Harare. It was attended by an estimated 1,500 people.
‘Our message to the people was to pray for peace and to exercise restraint so that the government will not have an excuse to declare a state of emergency,’ said Rev Sibanda.
Summit
The ZCA has also welcomed the emergency meeting called for 12 April by Zambian president Levy Patrick Mwanawasa of regional leaders to discuss the crisis, even though President Mugabe says he will not attend.
Last weekend the ZCA sent representatives to the SADC countries to discuss the deteriorating situation.
‘The feedback we received was very good,’ said Rev Gokova. But he warned against undue optimism.
‘Church and government leaders we spoke with are very concerned. But SADC governments have to follow their own protocol which tends to limit their actions.’