6 November 2002
MDC condemns threats and use of violence on underpaid professionals
The Movement for Democratic Change deplores the use of state sponsored violence and threats on professionals by the Mugabe regime, acts which have deprived thousands of Zimbabweans, most of them children, of basic social services as the regime intensifies its futile attempt to coerce the country’s professionals into supporting the unpopular ZanuPF regime.
The report in today’s issue of The Daily News in which the only doctor at Neshuro district hospital in Mwenezi, Masvingo, was forced to flee the hospital after threats to beat him up by Zanu PF hooligans is just the tip of the ice-berg. Many more health professionals and teachers, especially in the rural areas, have been forced out of their jobs, depriving thousands of people, the majority of them children, access to basic social services such as health and education.
Ironically, Mugabe has on several occasions tried to hoodwink the regional and international community into believing that he is a defender of children’s rights and protection, yet his regime has constantly sponsored the disruption of services that benefit children.
With no one to turn to for protection, the poorly remunerated professionals have had no choice but to leave the country. The only response from the regime has been to shed crocodile tears through several of its ministers who have cried foul when professionals, mostly in the health profession, leave the country for safer work places, ignoring the fact that most of these professionals are chased away from their jobs, while many more are forced out because of the poor conditions of service. The law enforcing agencies in the same regime have also failed to arrest the perpetrators of violence on professionals even where the culprits have been identified. If anything, the police has openly protected perpetrators of violence.
The MDC, once again, calls for an immediate end to the politicization of labour at all levels, and challenges the regime, through its law enforcement agents, to ensure that the culprits who have continuously prevented professionals to render their services are brought to book to ensure the well-being of the country.
P. Gwanyanya
MDC Shadow Minister/Secretary for Labour
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