THE Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) has sought the intervention of the Office of the High Commissioner for Human Rights (OHCHR) and the International Criminal Court (ICC) protesting a crackdown against its members and other pro-democracy activists.
The party also petitioned the Southern African Development Community leaders such as Cyril Ramaphosa of South Africa, Hakainde Hichilema of Zambia, United Kingdom Prime Minister Keir Starmer, African Union, African Commission of Human and People’s Rights, Minority Rights Group International, International Crisis Group and the Amnesty International citing the same concerns.
In a petition directed to the OHCHR dated August 29, MRP leader Mqondisi Moyo said there had been a relentless crackdown on pro-democracy activists and party members in the country.
“Recent threats on August 21, 2024 by Zanu PF head of Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology, Munyaradzi Machacha, to ‘crush’ the MRP and Mthwakazi people for advocating for the establishment of national borders separating Mthwakazi Republic from Zimbabwe are of concern,” the petition read.
The petition alleges that MRP members and supporters faced constant harassment, threatening phone calls, surveillance and physical assault.
“There is brutal suppression of peaceful protests and assemblies, resulting in injuries, fatalities and displacement,” the petition read.
“There are public utterances and publication of venomous, hate-provoking speech, vitriolic insults, and incendiary language against MRP and Ndebele people, perpetuating a culture of hostility and intolerance.”
The party also protested what it described as institutionalised economic marginalisation and exclusion of the Matabeleland region.
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MRP said there was also need for an internationally-led probe into the Gukurahundi massacres after discrediting the State-led exercise.
President Emmerson Mnangagwa has sanctioned the chiefs to lead public hearings into the 1980s mass killings in Matabeleland.
“We demand appointment of an internationally-led truth-telling investigation commission to look into the Gukurahundi Genocide (1983-1987) and ongoing human rights violations, prosecution and punishment of perpetrators, including high-ranking officials and security forces and reparations and compensation for victims and their families,” MRP said.
“The international community should arbitrate in this dialogue. We need a neutral institution to invite the Zimbabwean government to a negotiating table. We prefer dialogue not violence.”
Yesterday, Moyo said the ICC Registry acknowledged receipt of the MRP petition.
He said other institutions were yet to respond to their petition.
