THE United Kingdom House of Commons has acknowledged receiving of a petition by the secessionist Mthwakazi Republic Party (MRP) on Zanu PF threats to crush the movement, noting the concerns it raised.
MRP president Mqondisi Moyo wrote to the Speaker of the House of Commons in Westminster, London, directed to Sir Lindsay Hoyle complaining about threats and human rights violations allegedly committed by the Zanu PF government on people from Matabeleland and his party activists.
He said since January 2022, MRP members have faced arrests and detentions.
“The recent threats on August 21 by Zanu PF national commissar Munyaradzi Machacha at the Herbert Chitepo School of Ideology to ‘crush’ the MRP and Mthwakazi people for advocating for the establishment of national borders separating Mthwakazi Republic from Zimbabwe confirms the onslaught,” Moyo said.
He also indicated that there was an abduction attempt on March 10, while more than 30 suspected State security agents in military uniforms, police uniforms and civilian attire surrounded his residence around 12 midnight, intending to abduct him.
“Also, there were arrests and detention of MRP activists and Ndebele people on politically-motivated charges. MRP members and supporters were being harassed and intimidated through threatening phone calls, surveillance and physical assaults,” Moyo said.
“On February 14, 2022, 10 MRP activists were arrested during a peaceful protest in Bulawayo and on March 22, 2022, five MRP members were detained for 48 hours without charge. On January 25, 2022, MRP president Moyo received threatening phone calls from suspected State security agents.”
Moyo said on April 10, 2022, MRP activists were followed by unknown individuals, adding that on September 5, 2019, the then Energy deputy minister Energy Mutodi declared Ndebeles as “foreigners” in their own country.
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“On August 18, 2020, Minister Monica Mutsvangwa publicly insulted an Ndebele Catholic priest. On March 23, 2022, Mnangagwa issued chilling threats at a Zanu PF rally, vowing to arrest and shorten the lives of MRP activists and supporters,” he said in the petition.
“This list is not exhaustive, and the harassments perpetuated by Zanu PF on MRP members and Ndebele people are on-going. These incidents and several more as detailed hereunder demonstrate a clear pattern of persecution, intimidation and harassment against the MRP and Ndebele people.”
Moyo said there was brutal suppression of peaceful protests and assemblies, resulting in injuries, fatalities and displacement among a cocktail of violations against his party members and the people of Matabeleland.
“We urge you to take immediate action to stop human rights violations and ethnic cleansing, to promote economic empowerment and development, to support self-determination and democratic governance,” Moyo said.
In response, London Parliament Speakers’ Office administrator in the House of Commons, Isis Raine Williams, confirmed that he received the letter.
“Mr Speaker has asked me to thank you for your email, the contents of which have been noted. Mr Speaker appreciates you taking the time to write and send his best wishes,” Williams said.
