Directs the party and government to ensure that NGOs being used for regime change
and deviating from their mandate by interfering in Zimbabwe’s internal affairs should
be registered.
Urges the party to launch, without delay, a worldwide anti‐sanctions campaign
agitating for the immediate and unconditional lifting of the illegal sanctions imposed
against the country.
Resolves that the party, through government, accelerates and broadens the
indigenization and empowerment programmes and that sufficient resources are
provided for the purpose.
In early 2011 Zanu PF set about putting its resolutions into action. Against the background of the
wave of uprisings in North Africa, Zanu PF preemptively organized its own ‘popular’
demonstrations in Harare with Zanu PF supporters carrying banners reading ‘No to foreigners
controlling our economy’ and ‘Foreigners, sanctions have destroyed our economy so we want to
control our wealth.’ The demonstrations were violent and destructive causing enormous damage
to property at the Gulf shopping mall in the city.20 They were also carried out on the eve of the
EU meeting to review the targeted measures against key Zanu PF figures, almost in an attempt to
ensure that measures were not removed as the sanctions issue was a key message in the Zanu PF
election campaign.
Moreover Zanu PF began a clampdown on any attempts to organize Egypt style demonstrations.
In February 45 civic activists were arrested while watching a video and having discussions on the
events in North Africa, and charged with treason for plotting to overthrow a constitutionally
elected government.21 Zanu PF’s Defense Minister Mnangagwa warned activists: “Those who
may want to emulate what happened in Egypt and Tunisia will regret. Everybody is warned to
keep the peace in the country. The police are told that wherever violence rears its ugly head it
should be crushed.”22 Additionally MDC‐T leader Tsvangirai was threatened with arrest for
supporting the demonstrators in North Africa. In an interview with Fox News Tsavanigrai stated
that, “To me when people take their rights and start demanding more rights, there is nothing
20
Tichaona Sibanda, ‘Harare descends into chaos as Zanu PF militia loots.’
www.swradioafrica.com/news070211/hararedescends070211.htm Accessed on 08/02/2011. See also Section II of
the current report.
21
Lance Guma, ‘Gwisai and 45 activists charged with treason.’
www.swradioafrica.com/news230211/gwisai230211.htm Accessed on 24/02/2011.
22
‘Demonstrations in Zimbabwe will be crushed’. www.radiovop.com/national‐news/5463‐demonstrations‐in‐
zimbabwe‐will be crushed Accessed on 07/02/2011.
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