Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) has expressed disgruntlement over the continuous arrest of its members, describing these as political machinations put in place by the Emmerson Mnangagwa-led regime to suppress its political activities.
This sentiment comes after its National Organising Secretary, Parton Xaba, was on Tuesday found guilty of participating in a gathering with intent to promote public violence, breaching peace or bigotry, as defined in Section 37 (1)a of the Criminal Law (Codification and Reform) Act Chapter 9:12.
Read: https://cite.org.zw/mrp-member-causes-stir-in-court-appears-in-replica-prison-garb/
Xaba was remanded in custody at Khami Maximum prison awaiting sentencing.
His arrest follows that of nine other MRP party members who were sentenced to three years each after they stormed Bulawayo Central Police Station in protest.
“We declare the political polarisation of the Justice System a perpetuation of genocide, following the utterance made by Zimbabwe’s President, Emmerson Mnangagwa first on March 23, 2022, when addressing a rally in Chitungwiza citing that he will shorten the lives of the Mthwakazi activists,” said Mudenda Chilumbo, Chairperson the MRP Youth League while addressing a press conference Wednesday.
Chilumbo noted that Mnangagwa went on to publicly make more threats against MRP.
“Next was on June 23, 2022, while addressing locals in Gweru Bata Company saying Mthwakazi activists are possessed by a legion demon. His last threat was in Marondera, repeating threats of quelling all of our activities through prosecution warranting the sentencing and conviction of our members leading to the sentencing of the MRP nine to three years each,” he said.
The youth chairperson said MRP demanded the release of their members whose collective jail sentence amounts to 25 years in prison.
These nine are Welcome Moyo, Mongameli Xukuthwayo Mlotshwa, Sibongile Latifah Banda, Busi Moyo, Levison Ncube, Nkosilathi Ncube, Maxwell Ncube, Maxwell Nkosi, Tinos Nkomo and Ackim Ndebele.
“Their conviction was an instrument from Emmerson Mnangagwa as a tool of oppression and a follow up to his poisonous threats,” Chilumbo said.
He added that the “Mthwakazi Nation is going through what the Jewish experienced during the era of Hitler Concentration camps such as Bhalagwe and Antelope Mine were used during Gukurahundi.”
Chilumbo said besides the ‘harsh judicial systems’, the government “still advanced its offensive and committing genocidal acts against the people of Mthwakazi across aspects be it social, religiously or economic.”
“Matabeleland politicians were relegated down to oblivion of political deans and second fiddle players. To this extent, as a party we are disgruntled by the political mechanisms put in place by the regime to suppress the political activities of our party MRP,” said the youth chair.
