After a two-day anti-government strike, Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change yesterday vowed to escalate ”mass action” to force President Mugabe’s government to reform or leave office.
The national strike was the biggest protest for more than two years against Robert Mugabe’s 23-year rule, shuttng factories, shops, banks and other businesses in protest at alleged human rights abuses and the economic decline.
More than 400 opposition figures, including a member of parliament, were arrested over the two days, said civic groups. Police would not confirm the number of arrests, but said that ”mysterious explosions” near the city of Kadoma had damaged a supermarket, three shops, a bar and a bridge.
”Thirty-three people were arrested in Kadoma, including Austin Mupandawana, the MDC member of parliament,” the police said.
Re-invigorated by the strike, the opposition MDC issued the Mugabe government with a list of 15 demands to restore democratic rights by March 31 or face ”popular mass action to regain the people’s liberties, freedoms and dignity”.
Critics accuse Mr Mugabe’s regime of human rights abuses, rigging his re-election, and causing mass hunger by seizing the white minority’s farms. Two-thirds of Zimbabwe’s 12 million people are threatened with starvation, according to government figures.
”Over the past two days the people of Zimbabwe in their millions bravely demonstrated that they are no longer willing to live under tyranny and poverty,” said Paul Themba Nyathi, an MDC spokesman. ”The violence, the torture, murder and all other brutalities can no longer stop the people’s desire to be free.”
Morgan Tsvangirai, the MDC president, now standing trial for treason, thanked the people for backing the call for a strike: ”You have demon strated beyond any doubt to the regime that we, the people of Zimbabwe, have no fear and will take concrete steps to reclaim our power.
”This regime is nervous. Their bags are now packed as they realise who has the power. We have to prepare for the final push and they will run … We should prepare for the final onslaught for a people’s victory.”
Brian Raftopoulos, chairman of the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition, said civic groups fully supported the demand for the Mugabe government to step down.
The Commonwealth, meanwhile, has extended Zimbabwe’s year-long suspension until December when the 54-nation group meets in Nigeria. The suspension, due to have expired yesterday, highlights Mr Mugabe’s failure to split the Commonwealth on race lines. – Guardian Unlimited Â