| Women tell of Zim brutality 11 Oct 2007 Source: http://www.iol.co.za |
| JOHANNESBURG: A group of 12 Zimbabwe women, regularly arrested and ill treated in police custody, this week revealed shocking statistics of violence against members of their group, Women of Zimbabwe Arise (Woza). An interim report released by the group in Johannesburg said about 40 percent of women arrested during peaceful demonstrations were physically abused in detention. The report found that Woza members in Harare suffered more in police custody than their counterparts in second city Bulawayo. Many women were forced to take off their clothes in detention and were not allowed toiletries when menstruating. More than 20 percent of those arrested were hospitalised after being attacked by policemen, mostly from the notorious Law and Order Department. Amid the horror and tears as women told their stories in South Africa for the first time, there was also excitement. "South Africa has bread!" one young Zimbabwean women exclaimed in the foyer of the hotel in Braamfontein. Most of them say they can find little to eat as supermarkets have run out of food and the black market is both unaffordable and short of products. National co-ordinator Jenni Williams, detained 29 times since the organisation was launched five years ago, said the women were not aligned with any political party in Zimbabwe. She described Zimbabwe as a "heartbroken nation". She said the shocking death rate from HIV and Aids was exacerbated by the grave food shortage across the country. "Come and see the cemeteries, there is no space left." Mary Ndlovu, a veteran human rights activist living in Bulawayo, said: "It has become common practice for police to assault Woza women. "We also organise to nurture a new type of citizen who will herself be accountable and is brave enough to hold others accountable." Ndlovu is the widow of liberation war hero Edward Ndlovu, buried in the national Heroes' Acre in Harare. He was imprisoned by President Robert Mugabe during the crackdown on the opposition Zapu in the 1980s and died after his release. "Events in Zimbabwe are not surprising. We always knew there would be a lot of violence from Zanu-PF and right now I think it could get worse. "I joined Woza because I felt there was a great need for a movement of people to come together, be brave together, to redefine goals and take a step away from the political power issue." Woza has demonstrated against many institutions, such as the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe, for its chaotic management of the worthless Zimbabwe dollar, outside the Electricity Supply Commission. In the greatest of difficulties, Woza demonstrations have shocked some men to join them. Woza does not apply for permission to hold peaceful demonstrations, because, Williams said, so many of its applications were turned down. |
For all those soothsayers who predicted UK policy towards the bloody Mugabe regime would soften up under Gordon Brown's tenure, think again.
Brown had a strongly worded statement in the Independent (London) yesterday, laying down the gauntlet to the soft under-belly of Europe (Portugal, among others) with regard to the attendance of teh Zimbabwean dictator at the Portuguese-hosted E.U.-Africa Summit in December.
If the Portuguese invite Mugabe, as he is starving his country to death and arresting and beating anyone who resists his Pol Pot strategy, then Brown will pass on the event.
Though an eventual Portuguese snub to Mugabe will almost certainly result in the refusal of African countries themselves to particpate, that is a more desirable outcome than the spectre of Mugabe trying to turn the meeting into a public relations boon for himself.
Read Brown's excellent statement here.
The Australians have already taken this step; what are the Americans waiting for?
The Use of Food and Essential Needs as a Political Weapon
When the struggle against Zapu was at its height in the mid 80's,the Zanu PF
regime here used the distribution of food as a political weapon for the
first time. I recall it well because we were in a severe drought and there
was widespread shortage of food supplies from traditional sources. The 5th
Brigade was doing its "thing" in Matabeleland and although we knew all was
not well, we had scant idea of the full extent of that genocidal campaign.
In that year, the government cut off supplies from State controlled sources
and effectively said to the Ndebele people - if you continue to support
Zapu, one way or another you will die. This was no idle threat - they killed
at least 20 000 people in the campaign, more than had died in the liberation
of the country over many years and they controlled the basic staple foods
almost completely.
They did this by erecting roadblocks on all roads leading into the rural
areas in Matabeleland; these had instructions to stop the entry of media
practitioners and also all forms of basic foods. Relatives in the urban
areas and in South Africa could not reach their families with aid when
requested and no publicity of the operation was allowed.
In 1987, after 5 years of murder, mayhem and hardship, Zapu capitulated and
was absorbed into Zanu PF. There was little else they could do if their
people were to survive. The record of this savage political campaign is
published in the report "Breaking the Silence" now in book form.
At that time there was no threat to the hegemony of Zanu PF in Zimbabwe.
They dominated the political scene and held an overwhelming majority in
Parliament. Mugabe wanted more - he wanted a one Party State. He could not
tolerate any opposition.
Since then many new opposition voices have come and gone. One by one they
were eliminated by effective but less bloody techniques - infiltration,
subversion, bribery, threats and a media black out with propaganda. When
necessary they used violence - targeted and ruthless, or their economic
muscle to force leadership to leave the field or retire hurt.
Then came the MDC, a new labour based political movement with strong grass
roots support. Initially confident that the same lethal mix that had
poisoned the ground for opposition parties in the past would do the job
again, Zanu PF simply ignored the threat leaving it to the security agency
that held responsibility, to "fix" the problem.
When they finally woke up the morning after the referendum in February 2000,
they suddenly knew they were in a real fight - this time for power itself.
MDC had won the referendum even after those responsible for the vote had
ensured that it would be rigged by 15 per cent and had assured them that
they would win the vote quite easily.
The response by the regime to this electoral shock was predictable. Mr.
Mugabe gave a vintage performance on National television saying that he
accepted the decision of the people, but behind that cold façade was a
ruthless and cruel determination to use every tool in the Zanu PF tool kit
against these new usurpers.
In the intervening 7 years, Zanu PF has been forced to gradually intensify
its campaign to retain power, in the process losing its democratic
credentials and its standing in the world community. Now Zanu faces its most
serious threat since 1980 South Africa has forced the next election back to
March 2008 and the SADC is demanding that Zimbabwe fulfill its obligations
as a member and adhere to the SADC norms for free and fair elections.
The strategy evolved by those doing this sort of thing in Zanu PF and
government itself, called for acceptance of changes to the actual voting
procedures on the day, but was intended to deliver a broken, bloodied MDC
and a radically changed electoral pattern to the poll. So we have seen
renewed attacks on MDC structures - across the country, renewed use of
imprisonment, false accusations, torture and savage beatings, all designed
to drive activists out of the country and to ntimidate those who remain.
Then the operation, like Murambatsvina in 2005, designed to close down
business in urban areas, take over major export industries and drive out of
the country another 2 to 3 million urban inhabitants. This is well under way
and I estimate that half a million urban residents have already left the
country for other countries - most going to South Africa. Millions more are
preparing to go and will move as soon as their plans are made.
As part of this integrated strategy the regime here has increased control
over basic food supplies. They are systematically denying the urban areas
food - there is now no maize meal, no rice, no bread, no meat or beans, in
urban areas. People are scavenging for food and the struggle to feed
families and the elderly is becoming well nigh impossible. Couple this to
water rationing or no water at all, water borne disease and fuel at Z$400
000 a litre and the local mini busses charging Z$100 000 per trip to town
and you have a situation that is simply intolerable.
This situation is being creating deliberately - fuel is supposed to be
selling at Z$350 per litre - the actual street price is Z$2 million for 5
litres. Maize meal is supposed to be sold at Z$5 000 a kilo - the actual
price is Z$25 000 a kilo. Meat is supposed to be sold at Z$240 000 a kilo
but the market price is not less than Z$1 million a kilo. The real rate of
inflation for the ordinary worker is probably about 20 000 percent and his
wages and income are rising slowly - controlled by government.
The plan was that by the time of the election in March 2008, the Cities
would be a shadow of their previous state, population down by half and those
that remained, hungry and dependent either on Zanu PF employers or the State
for survival. The MDC would also be reduced to a shell and a broken one at
that! In the rural areas it was Zanu's calculation that their hold over
traditional leaders plus food control would deliver the vote.
This use of a mix of manipulation of the vote using the voters roll, the
delimitation process in determining voting districts and then exercising
physical control over voters on the day, has enlisted the support of the
donor community who pour hundreds of millions of dollars into humanitarian
assistance each year. The agencies involved allow themselves to be co-opted
by the State for this purpose by only doing what they are allowed to do in
this field and supplying food through official channels. NGO's are seen as
extensions of government liable to be denied access to communities at the
whim of local political authorities. Often Zanu PF is allowed to even direct
food aid operations. The UN Agencies are all guilty of such actions.
Breaking the hold of Zanu PF over the electoral system is only one half of
the equation we require to secure our rights as a people. Their hands must
also be taken off the price controls and the availability of food and jobs.
If we are going to get anything like a free and fair vote in 2008, this
latter aspect, which is very much under the control of foreign donors and
investors, needs urgent attention.
Eddie Cross
Bulawayo, 19th September 2007
ZLHR INFO ALERT National Human Rights Defenders Project ZCTU stay away news flash
The Rapid Reaction Unit (RRU) of the National Human Rights Defenders Project remains on high alert in light of the impending ZCTU stay away and the resultant state repression and intimidation that is currently obtaining. The Zimbabwe Republic Police and their intelligence counterparts have mounted pre-emptive strikes meant to paralyse and disorient the ZCTU ahead of the planned stay away by targeting their organizers and office bearers in various provinces.
Below are the incidences reported so far:-
In Gweru one Isaac Teveteve, the Gweru Branch Secretary of the ZCTU, has been picked up by the police and detained today, 18 September 2007. ZLHR has deployed Mr Garikayi to handle the matter. We have been informed that the police have denied him access to his client. ZLHR is currently pursuing efforts to secure his release.
In Bulawayo today two ZCTU secretariat members, Mr Reason Ngwenya and Mr Ambrose Sibindi, were also picked up whilst one Mcijo is still being pursued by the police and intelligence operatives. ZLHR has since deployed a lawyer to attend to this case.
In a related operation today early in the morning Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) member, Magodonga Mahlangu, was picked up by the police. The RRU has deployed its member, Mr Kossam Ncube, to handle the case.
At least two incidents of attacks on ZCTU office bearers, including the National Organizer, have been reported in Harare. At least three individuals were detained initially in Mbare and have since been moved to Harare Central police station. Lawyers have not been able to take instructions, but it is believed that the three were assaulted before being detained. ZLHR lawyers are in the process of confirming reports and responding to the distress calls. Further updates will be availed in the next Alert.
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