| Report on political violence in
Bulawayo, Harare, Manicaland, Mashonaland West, Masvingo, Matabeleland North, Matabeleland
South and Midlands July 29, 2000 |
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Contents « Masvingo Midlands »Matabeleland North and South The Archbishop Ncube, the Catholic bishop in this area has expressed his concern over the presence of military personnel sporting red berets, the type that was worn by the now-disbanded 5 Brigade during the reign of terror on civilians in the Matabeleland and Midlands provinces in the 1980s following an armed dissident uprising in the three provinces. Archbishop Ncube was adamant that the presence of military personnel in red berets was not just coincidental. He said the government was waging a psychological war to gain votes in the forthcoming parliamentary elections. Ncube said. "It is clear the government is afraid of losing the election so they have embarked on a psychological war," he said. "These people in red berets are meant to cow the ordinary people into voting for the government in the election. "The message is clear: ‘Remember what we did to you in the 1980s? If you do not vote for us we will be back to repeat the torture,’ is what the presence is saying. It is an intimidating tactic to ensure people vote the government back into power." |