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ZimRights deprecates Machipisa violence
Zimbabwe Human Rights Association (ZimRights)
September 08, 2011

ZimRights deplores the violence that took place at Machipisa shopping centre in Highfields after a ZANU PF led Chipangano gang attacked vendors and looted their products yesterday 7 September.

This led to stalling of business at one of the oldest shopping centres around the city. Shockingly, the police are said to have witnessed the chaos, with some of them taking part in beating people with button sticks. ZimRights notes with grave concern at the unprofessional, partisan and inept attitude in which the police continue to exhibit. The thugs pounced on alleged, confirmed or imagined sympathisers of the former opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) party selling at the market stalls.

The group invaded and attacked the marketers, citing that the stalls were only built for people who have respect for the struggle and not "for sell-outs" from MDC. These disturbances clearly mock and add question to the sincerity of the party, since this took place soon after Mugabe's calls for an end to violence.

This violence eruption in Highfield marks the second bout within a single week, following another attack on alleged MDC supporters by ZANU PF hooligans during the opening of Parliament on Tuesday.

Police's failure to react and hold the perpetrators accountable is major cause for concern as there is selective applications of the law. Zimbabwean police must fulfil their mandate to offer protection to citizens and not ironically be major facilitator of violence and human rights abuse.

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