Zanu (PF) tries to silence activists

Written by The Zimbabwean

Saturday, 07 November 2009 13:22

Abduction and illegal detention of MDC and NGO officials is on the rise, and has dramatically increased in recent weeks, according to ZIMBABWE DEMOCRACY NOW. Starting with the high-profile abduction of human rights activists Jestina Mukoko and Broderick Takawira in December 2008, this list shows the recent escalation of these incidents of harassment.
We call on President Robert Mugabe’s secret police and militia to cease their persecution of Zimbabwean civic and political organisations with immediate effect, and we call on the SADC and the AU to support our call for a cessation of hostilities against Zimbabwean citizens.

Jestina Mukoko
Who: Prominent human rights activist and director of the faith-based rights group Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP).
Abducted: December 3, 2008 in a pre-dawn raid at her Norton home. Detained illegally.
Charges: Sabotage, banditry and terrorism.
Court actions: Mukoko’s whereabouts were unknown until her appearance in court on December 24, 2008. She was in custody until she was granted bail onMarch 2, 2009, after 92 days of detention. The bail was later revoked by Harare magistrate Catherine Chimanda and later reinstated on May 6, 2009.
Until her vindication, Mukoko had mounted a protracted legal battle to secure her freedom through several court applications with the magistrates, High and Supreme Courts.
Date Released: Granted a permanent stay of criminal proceedings by Supreme Court Judge Justice Chidyausiku on September 28, 2009.
Subjected to: Torture.

Broderick Takawira
Who: ZPP staff member.
Abducted: December 8, 2008 from ZPP office by six men driving unmarked cars
Charges: Sabotage, banditry and terrorism.
Court actions: Whereabouts unknown until court appearance on December 24, 2008.
Date Released: Granted a permanent stay of criminal proceedings by Supreme Court Judge Justice Chidyausiku on September 28, 2009.
Subjected to: Torture.
The activists are seeking US$500m for wrongful arrest, torture and abduction after their terror charges were dropped, along with seven other abductees – Fidelis Chiramba, Concillia Chinanzvavana, Emmanuel Chinanzvavana, Pieta Kaseke, Violet Mupfuranhehwe, Collen Mutemagau and Audrey Zimbudzana.
Also abducted in December but still missing are Ephraim Mabeka, Lovemore Machokoto, Charles Muza, Edmore Vangirayi, Graham Matehwa and Peter Munyanyi.

Andrison Manyere, Gandhi Mudzingwa and Chris Dhlamini
Who: Manyere – Tsvangirai’s former aide and freelance journalist; Mudzingwa and Dhalmini – MDC officials.
Abducted: December 2008.
Charges: Vague and unsubstantiated charges of banditry, sabotage, insurgency and terrorism.
Court actions: Appeared in court on December 24, 2008. Manyere made an initial bail application to the High Court on February 19 but it was dismissed by Justice Yunus Omerjee. However, the same judge later granted him leave to apply to the Supreme Court, saying the court had misdirected itself when it denied bail to the accused. All three men released on bail from prison on April 17, 2009. They were released despite the fact that a subsequent court order had been granted giving the state leave to appeal against the granting of bail. They are now on the run.
Subjected to: Torture, including being waterboarded and physically assaulted; solitary confinement.

Roy Bennett
Who: MDC Treasurer-General and Deputy Minister designate of Agriculture.
Abducted: February 13, 2009 (day of Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai’s inauguration) from Charles Prince Airport; detained for 3 weeks in Mutare remand prison.
Charges: Plotting to overthrow President Robert Mugabe. Charges later reduced to possession of weapons with intent to commit banditry, insurgency and terrorism.
Court actions: Granted bail by High Court on February 24, 2009 but remained in custody after the State was granted seven days to lodge its appeal against the court’s decision.
However, the State unsuccessfully sought leave to appeal against the granting of Bennett bail at the High Court, before it was given the right to appeal at the Supreme Court the week prior. He was granted bail on March 11.
Detained again October 14. Released on bail October 16 and will go on trial tomorrow (Monday), with Attorney-General Tomana prosecuting.
Subjected to: Appalling prison conditions.
Cephas Zinhumwe and Dadirai Chikweng
Who: Chief Executive Officer and Board Chairperson of the National Association of Non-Governmental Organisations (NANGO) respectively.
Arrested: October 25, 2009 at Victoria Falls airport, reportedly by representatives of the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO).
Charges: Charged under the Public Order and Security Act (POSA) for holding an illegal political meeting.
Court action: Granted bail on October 27, pending another hearing in November.

Pascal Gwezere
Who: MDC Transport Manager.
Abducted: October 27, 2009 by six armed men in a grey Isuzu from his home in Mufakose, Harare.
Charged: Theft of weapons from a military barracks in Harare, as well as with undergoing terrorist training in Uganda.
Court actions: October 31, 2009 appeared in court and denied bail. Remanded in custody to November 13.
Subjected to: Torture, including being blindfolded, beaten under the feet and being indecently assaulted. In need of serious medical attention as a result.
Edith Mashayire
Who: Senior Security Officer for the MDC headquarters at Harvest House
Attempted abduction: Accosted on October 27, 2009 by four armed men in civilian clothing, three with AK47 assault rifles and one with a pistol. They tried to force her into their white twin cab Isuzu truck but people in the vicinity reacted immediately and were able to free her.

Gertrude Hambira
Who: Secretary-General of the General Agriculture and Plantation Workers’ Union of Zimbabwe (GAPWUZ), Attempted abduction: Narrowly avoided abduction November 3, 2009 by suspected state security personnel in Harare. Now in hiding.

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