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Midlands Bureau

VICE President Emmerson Mnangagwa has castigated the violence that rocked some parts of Harare last week calling them unconstitutional. Speaking in Gweru on the sidelines of a Methodist Church district convention for women where he had gone to witness his wife, Cde Auxilia Mnangagwa receive confirmation into the church’s women’s fellowship ministry Ruwadzano group at the weekend, the VP dismissed reports of imminent food shortages and said Zimbabwe should be food self-sufficient by November as Government continued to receive food imports.He, however, deplored the violence that rocked some parts of Harare last week saying Zimbabweans were mature people who should accept other people’s views in a peaceful manner.

His remarks followed last week’s orgy of violence in Harare unleashed by opposition parties under the banner, National Electoral Reforms Agenda (Nera).

“On violence, I was not in Harare, but I am told that there were some demonstrations which were violent. Our constitution allows people to demonstrate, but it does not allow people to violate the rights of other people or to violate the property of others.”

“I understand there was violence which resulted in some people being injured which resulted in some properties being destroyed. That’s unZimbabwean, its un-African and its unconstitutional. That must stop in our view,” he said.

VP Mnangagwa said he believed that Zimbabweans were a mature people who should accept the views of others to demonstrate peacefully.

“We can only build our nation by accepting that your fellow citizen might have a good idea, you listen and it’s out of debate and discussion that the best comes out. But those who then resort to violence, it only depicts their lack of understanding, their lack of the depth of appreciation of development in our country.”

On Sunday, Vice President Phelekezela Mphoko blasted spineless opposition leaders for covertly abusing youths to commit crime under the cover of street protests.

Turning to food security, VP Mnangagwa said currently the country had six and half months cover for the people and that by November, the reserves would cover the country for the whole year.

“There was a time when we only had one month food cover. I chair the Food Security Utility cluster which deals with the importation of food into the country. In the last eight weeks to 10 weeks, we have been able to bring into the country enough maize which covers food deficiency of up to six and half months. I believe that by October or November, we should have up to 10 months cover and we are happy that we have been successful in bringing in maize,” he said.

He said the country was getting maize from Zambia, South Africa, Mexico and Ukraine.