Zimbabwe Information Centre Inc
Sydney, Australia
Media Release
June 4, 2003,
Attention: Chief of Staff
International Writer
MDC maintains peaceful protest policy during national strike
The general strike launched in Zimbabwe this Monday has shut down the country and provoked the Mugabe regime to deploy massive military, police and militia forces to crush the mass demonstrations which MDC had called in every city and town. Militia are chasing business owners to try to force them to re-open shops and factories, to very little effect.
In Harare on Monday, the mass demonstration was set for 10.30 am at the City Hall, and right on schedule 600 people mobilised from three wards concentrated in front of the City Hall. But immediately an even larger force of police, military and militia emerged to assault them with clubs and tear gas.
MDC’s instruction to protesters was not to fight but to run if they were assaulted, and this is what the 600 did.
The thousands of other protesters who were poised to join them at the City Hall were walking in small groups of three or four in nearby streets. When they saw the massive state force deployed against the protest, they also withdrew from the area. It was only those who came late to the city who were caught by the police and military.
"We in MDC conducted Monday’s events according to plan. Our people were well organised and remain well organised," said Mrs Sekai Holland, MDC Secretary for International Affairs on Tuesday night, Sydney-time. "We have called on all MDC organisations to meet and analyse what happened on Monday and work out an effective way to hold mass protests. This consultation will take time and there will be no further attempts at mass protests this week," Mrs Holland said.
"The ZANU-PF Central Committee has been meeting all through Monday and Tuesday, and we also know that the Defence Services Committee has also been meeting continuously. The regime is alarmed at the what we in MDC are doing and does not know what to do next," Mrs Holland said.
"MDC President Morgan Tsvangirai has emphasised that we will win our democracy through peaceful protest. Our President says he is determined to have minimal casualties of our people as we proceed with this final drive to achieve a transition to genuine elections, democratic government and national recovery," said Mrs Holland.
For further comment: Dr Meredith Burgmann MLC 02 9230 2300
Peter Murphy 0418 312 301
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