Gukurahundi Returns

Zimbabweans awoke to a heavy police presence in towns and cities, several roadblocks outside town, water cannons, police trucks and all sorts of army vehicles common in war torn countries. Although a state of emergency in Zimbabwe had not been declared, on the 3rd of December it surely declared itself. The night before the black day, former Defence Minister Sydney Sekeramai appeared on national television warning ZCTU against holding the protest. All this summarised the state security’s prior preparations for the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU) demonstration.

The steps and measures taken by the state security were as if Zimbabwe was anticipating a terrorist attack, and yet the ever peace loving Zimbabweans had simply highlighted that they will be exercising their right to freedom of expression. It is clear now that Mugabe’s worst enemy is not Gordon Brown, neither is it George Bush nor Tsvangirai, it is that universal thing called human rights. Calling all the state security arms to crush peaceful protesters exercising their right and demanding their rights, it’s not surprising that even the prison service was on stand –by that day.

ZANU PF is a dictatorship party led by a dictator, dictatorship and human rights are not compatible, that is why Mugabe can never tolerate human rights in Zimbabwe. On that bright shiny day as early as 5am the Director of Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), Jestina Mukoko was abducted by fifteen plain clothed men who identified themselves as police at her home in Norton. As the day progressed Raymond Majongwe the Progressive Teachers Union (PTUZ) Secretary General, was arrested along with six others, as they were walking opposite the Reserve Bank of Zimbabwe (RBZ). This followed the arrest of trade union leaders- Wellington Chibebe, ZCTU Secretary General and Lovemore Matombo, ZCTU President, Japhet Moyo ZCTU Deputy Secretary General together with nine others.

The police continued with their crackdown on human rights defenders; they heavily assaulted Gertrude Hambira Secretary General of the General Agricultural and Plantation Workers' Union, Angeline Chitambo President of the Zimbabwe Energy Workers' Union, Tecla Masamba of Communications and Allied Workers' Union of Zimbabwe, Martha Kajama of National Engineering Workers' Union of Zimbabwe amongst others. Twenty five people were arrested in Gweru, 6 others in Zvishavane, whilst the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) Bulawayo offices were raided, as they suspected them of harbouring ZCTU activists.

However an alarming incident that needs urgent action is the abduction of Jestina Mukoko , she was abducted in a similar Tonderai Ndira style, from these past similar abduction cases, let’s not just expect that she will be returned beaten or tortured, the same fate that befell Tonderai Ndira could happen to her. In as much as we might want to be very optimistic, we should not rule out the worst possible scenarios considering the suspects we are dealing with. Civil society in Zimbabwe, the regional and international community should help to ensure the safe return of Jestina.

Women must be at the fore front of demanding the return of Jestina alive. She is a woman human rights defender who has been abducted at a time when for 16 days the whole world is calling for the protection and respect of human rights for women and when we are moving towards international human rights day. All Women’s organisations should mobilise women and campaign for the safe return of Jestina, haven’t women been provoked enough by this incident these are our days dedicated to us, and yet one of our own is abducted.

Women must not remain silent. Tonderai Ndira was abducted and later found dead, Shepherd Jani was also abducted and found dead, and Fungisai Zome an MDC activist was abducted from her home and later found dead. Recently( early November) 12 MDC activists were abducted including a 2 year old child up to now they haven’t been found. Many other activists, were tortured and had to flee the country such as Ray Choto and Luke Tamborinyoka , we are now tired of adding people to our list of victims it’s time to end this era of barbarism!

People are being murdered by the army in Chiadzwa Mutare under Operation Hakudzokwi (Operation you will not return), hundreds more are dying of cholera because of government’s neglect. Whilst we are still waiting for the return of Jestina two more activists from ZPP have been abducted today (08/10/08). These abductions have followed a similar pattern, beginning with the kidnapping of the victim by force, often at their homes, by armed men in civilian clothes, acting with apparent impunity and using vehicles without any official identification. It is now public and notorious knowledge in Zimbabwe that the kidnappings are carried out by military personnel or the police, or persons acting under their instructions. Certainly this is the return of Gukurahundi, this time it is not targeting a tribe it is targeting activists, probably a similar militia such as the five Brigade which wiped out Matebeleland has been set up and is whipping out activists

No action had yet been taken by Police at the time Civil Society held a press Conference on the 4th of December 2008 .It is the responsibility of the state (police) to ensure the safety and individual liberty of its citizens In actual fact Police should be taking urgent action because these people purported to be police thus tarnishing the name of the ZRP, by now Police should have issued a statement dissociating themselves and vowing to find those criminals and bring them to book. Most surprising is the silence by the state media, the victim is a former employee of the state owned TV, publiscing on TV or radio is one of the best ways of searching for a kidnapped person, but they remain silent. It’s as if the police and the state media are under instruction not to bear a hand in the Jestina case.

Human rights organisations have produced reports with testimonies and documentary evidence showing that they have been many abductions, murders and torture in Zimbabwe since the Gukurahundi era and that those acts were attributable to ZANU PF which was able to rely at least on the tolerance of the government. Abductions and murders are now common human rights violations in Zimbabwe, being mainly used as a means of creating a general state of anguish, insecurity and fear. However let those responsible be reminded that they might escape justice now, but- there is no expiry date to justice.