'Political cleansing, a return to the past' - opposition MDC president

Record ID: 1392164

  • Title: 'Political cleansing, a return to the past' - opposition MDC president
  • Date: 22nd January 2019
  • Summary: HARARE, ZIMBABWE (JANUARY 22, 2019) (REUTERS) (SOUNDBITE) (English) MDC PRESIDENT, NELSON CHAMISA, SAYING: "The most important point right now is the stopping of harassment, mass arrests of people who did not commit any crime. They were arrested at their homesteads, they were invaded and also people being taken out of their homes, so at no point where they linked to any co
  • Embargoed: 5th February 2019 18:46
  • Keywords: Opposition MDC President Nelson Chamisa Zimbabwe politics internet blackout street protests President Emmerson Mnangagwa tweet injured protesters
  • Location: HARARE, ZIMAMBWE/ JOHANNESBURG AND PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA
  • City: HARARE, ZIMAMBWE/ JOHANNESBURG AND PRETORIA, SOUTH AFRICA
  • Country: Zimbabwe
  • Topics: Government/Politics
  • Reuters ID: LVA0049Y870W7
  • Aspect Ratio: 16:9
  • Story Text: Nelson Chamisa, leader of Zimbabwean's main opposition party, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC), said there was an urgent need for dialogue with the government and all those detained to be freed.
    "Dialogue is a very good thing," he said, for the "issue of national healing" and "human rights and peace" as well as the fragile economy and re-engaging with the international community.
    Chamisa called the latest brutal crackdown by security forces on anti-government misconduct, where hundreds have been detained and activists are in hiding "total victimisation".
    "It's almost a political cleansing akin to Gukurahundi. It's almost Gukurahundi Part 2," he said. "Individuals are being targeted on account of a political party persuasion against the dictates of our constitution."
    Several opposition politicians and rights activists remain in hiding as authorities try to track them down, lawyers and residents say. They accuse security forces of raiding homes at night and beating up suspected protesters, charges police and the army deny.
  • Copyright Holder: REUTERS
  • Copyright Notice: (c) Copyright Thomson Reuters 2019. Open For Restrictions - http://about.reuters.com/fulllegal.asp
  • Usage Terms/Restrictions: Footage contains images from newspapers or magazines. User is responsible for obtaining additional clearances before publishing this clip.
Register