The United States has accused the Zimbabwean government of allegedly abusing the levers of power to silence critics in the wake of a recent spate of recalls of opposition lawmakers.
In a statement, US State Department spokesman Ned Price condemned last week’s recall from parliament of opposition MDC Alliance vice president Tendai Biti and five other legislators ostensibly by a party that is part of the MDC Alliance.
Biti was president of the People’s Democratic Party (PDP) before the party formed alliance with other opposition parties to form the MDC Alliance ahead of general elections in July 2018.
The six recalled officials were elected to parliament on an MDC Alliance ticket in the 2018 polls.
Price said the recalls of the legislators was a ploy by the ruling ZANU PF, working with disgruntled opposition officials, to subvert the “will of voters, further undermine democracy, and deny millions of Zimbabwean citizens their chosen representation.”
“ZANU PF is misusing the levers of government to silence critics, neutralize opposition, and entrench its political power over the Zimbabwean people,” Price said.
Parliamentary manoeuvres supported by the Zimbabwean government have led to the ouster of 39 MDC Alliance lawmakers and 81 local elected officials since March 2020.
“We continue to monitor efforts by the government to dismantle the MDC Alliance through the arrest and detention of its leaders and diversion of its assets.
ZANU PF has denied the allegations.
JN/APA