Zimbabwe opposition urges incoming president to destroy Mugabe's pillars of oppression

HARARE,  Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) on Thursday urged the new Zimbabwean government to dismantle all pillars of repression and oppression that had been put in place by former President Robert Mugabe. 
"We remain firmly convinced that all the pillars, warts and all, of the Mugabe dictatorship have got to tumble," the MDC said in a statement. 
"The people of Zimbabwe are looking forward to a new and refreshing era of political tolerance and socioeconomic transformation and regeneration. 
"The politics of thuggery, intolerance, intransigence, patronage and corruption that were the hallmark of the collapsed Mugabe regime should never, ever be allowed to resurface in our beloved motherland," the party added. 
It said the new government must ensure the creation of strong institutions as opposed to the creation of strong personalities, adding that it remains cautiously optimistic that the Mnangagwa administration "will not mimic and replicate the evil, corrupt, decadent and incompetent Mugabe regime." 
"In this respect, therefore, we shall continue to denounce the deification of individuals in our political discourse. Politicians come and go but Zimbabwe shall always remain in place," the MDC said. 
The opposition party also called for an even electoral playing field during next year's elections. 
Former president Robert Mugabe resigned Tuesday following pressure from the military and Zimbabweans, ending his 37 year grip on power. 
Meanwhile, Zimbabwe's constitutional watchdog Veritas on Thursday urged Zimbabwean authorities to uphold the rights of everyone detained following the military takeover of government on Nov. 15. 
"Everyone who has been arrested and detained for a crime, whatever its nature, must be brought before a court as soon as possible and in any event within 48 hours. 
"We urge the authorities to accord the detained ministers their fundamental constitutional rights, rights upon which Zimbabwe itself is founded by virtue of section 3 of the Constitution," Veritas said. 
Media reports have alleged that the military arrested a number of former president Robert Mugabe's associates including some cabinet ministers and that they remain in detention. 
However, the military has not provided information about any arrest, location, and conditions of detention, or reasons for arrest. Enditem 
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