2008 Woodie Awards
Zimbabwean Mugabe government cracks down on rival party
Deena Zaru
Issue date: 4/6/07 Section: World
"While I was growing up, Zimbabwe was one of the most educated African countries. It's very beautiful, scenic and touristy," said Coordinator of Multicultural Recruitment Tanya Madenyika, a Zimbabwe native. "This is the Zimbabwe I know, but just after 1995, things started changing."
When the current president of Zimbabwe, Robert G. Mugabe, who has been in power since 1980, realized "a rival opposition party was gaining power and becoming very popular with the majority of the people, his regime was in a state of panic," said Madenyika. "Mugabe was afraid that he was losing control."
According to The New York Times, on March 19 the Mugabe government had cracked down on its political critics.
The attacks were widely spread and reportedly included everything from assaults on leaders of resistance movements to private threats against local activists and their supporters.
"In Zimbabwe, people have the right to protest, and in the past it has been done peacefully and productively," said Madenyika. "People want change because the Mugabe regime no longer stands for what the majority of the people want."
Since an anti-government rally in southern Harare two months ago, Zimbabwe has been in turmoil, as cities were violently disrupted by police officers, and a riot spread through one of the capital's poorest neighborhoods.
According to The Socialist Worker newspaper, Mugabe security forces broke up prayer meeting preparations of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in the outskirts of Harare. The shootings resulted in the death of one activist and brutal beatings of 50 others.
"The new party (MDC) brought a fresh, new perspective that attracted a younger generation, especially in urban areas," said Madenyika. "There is a big gap forming, mainly between the younger generation in the cities and the older generation in the rural areas."
Yet according to The New York Times, "Mugabe has adamantly rejected that criticism, saying that his critics are simply receiving the beatings they deserve for trying to foment violence."
When the current president of Zimbabwe, Robert G. Mugabe, who has been in power since 1980, realized "a rival opposition party was gaining power and becoming very popular with the majority of the people, his regime was in a state of panic," said Madenyika. "Mugabe was afraid that he was losing control."
According to The New York Times, on March 19 the Mugabe government had cracked down on its political critics.
The attacks were widely spread and reportedly included everything from assaults on leaders of resistance movements to private threats against local activists and their supporters.
"In Zimbabwe, people have the right to protest, and in the past it has been done peacefully and productively," said Madenyika. "People want change because the Mugabe regime no longer stands for what the majority of the people want."
Since an anti-government rally in southern Harare two months ago, Zimbabwe has been in turmoil, as cities were violently disrupted by police officers, and a riot spread through one of the capital's poorest neighborhoods.
According to The Socialist Worker newspaper, Mugabe security forces broke up prayer meeting preparations of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) in the outskirts of Harare. The shootings resulted in the death of one activist and brutal beatings of 50 others.
"The new party (MDC) brought a fresh, new perspective that attracted a younger generation, especially in urban areas," said Madenyika. "There is a big gap forming, mainly between the younger generation in the cities and the older generation in the rural areas."
Yet according to The New York Times, "Mugabe has adamantly rejected that criticism, saying that his critics are simply receiving the beatings they deserve for trying to foment violence."
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