The Tsvangirai led, Movement for Democratic Change (MDC-T) rubbished claims that it is a terrorist organisation.
This follows a report by Sunday Mail of August 28, which portrayed the country’s largest opposition party as a terrorist organisation.
In a statement the party said, such utterances by the state media were extremely disturbing, grossly offensive and patently untrue.
“False reports to the effect that the MDC has been training its youth wing in para-military tactics and urban violence should therefore, be dismissed with the utter contempt and disdain that they rightfully deserve.
“The fact of the matter is that the MDC is not training any terror squads allegedly to destabilize Zimbabwe. For the record, the MDC is a lawful and peace-loving social democratic political party that was formed in September, 1999,” said MDC-T.
The statement urged the state controlled media to stop peddling lies.
“The MDC would like to call upon the Zanu PF – controlled media to immediately desist from peddling lies and falsehoods that are wickedly meant to portray the MDC as a violent, terrorist organization.
“As the fourth estate, the media should, at all times, report facts and desist from fabricating malicious, false and defamatory stories against President Morgan Tsvangirai in particular and other opposition political leaders in general,” reads part of the statement.
The statement claimed that the ruling party is the most violent organisation the country has ever had.
“Zimbabweans still vividly remember how President Morgan Tsvangirai and other top opposition politicians were brutally assaulted by some rogue Police officers and CIO agents in Harare in March, 2007. So thuggish and brutal was the assault that it eventually forced SADC to urgently intervene in order to resolve the Zimbabwean political crisis and impasse.
“It is the Zanu PF regime itself that has been unleashing wanton violence and brutal physical force on peaceful demonstrators. On Wednesday, August 25, 2016, the Zimbabwe Republic Police embarked on an orgy of violence in downtown Harare; beating up and vandalizing innocent and peaceful demonstrators who had been embarking on a lawful march led by the MDC Youth Assembly,” said the country’s main opposition party .
