Terrorism, Brutalities and Starvation ahead of March 2008, Presidential elections in Zimbabwe

The fact that Zimbabwe is at war cannot be disputed with success. It is difficult at times for outsiders to understand the nature of this war.

The ruling ZANU PF government has lost all popularity in all sectors of the population and does not want to relinquish power. ZANU PF is clinging on power at all cost - even if it means murdering and starving all dissenters.

Thousands of Zimbabwe opposition women have been raped, or abused or beaten by police or government sponsored partisans. In march 2002 when l made gestures against corruption, state terrorism and refused to attend ZANU PF meetings (compulsory for all) my homestead was raided over night by State militias and the so-called War Veterans.

Productive commercial farms and companies have been invaded and looted by the State. Therefore millions are starving to death. Many sectors of the population have been deprived of relief aid; people are resorting to rates, mouse’s and grass for food.

More than 4million Zimbabweans supporting the opposition have been exiled. Tens of thousands of urban residents have been tortured, beaten by State agencies. Millions had their homes destroyed during the "Operation Murambatsvina'.

The main opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) president, Morgan Tsvangirai said, 'ZANU PF is banning its rallies, abducting and assaulting opposition activists and ignoring political reform ... ZANU is busy undermining our basic rights and freedom of assembly.'

The Zimbabwe Civic Society leaders told Morgan Tsvangirai that, 'His party should demand a new delimitation process and a new constitution... the MDC should demand free press and international supervision of polls by UN.

MDC spokesperson Chamisa said, “The key issues to be addressed before going to the polls include a new voters registration process, a clean voters roll and the immediate reconstitution of the Zimbabwean Electoral Commission.”

Zimbabwe does not have an Independent Electoral Commission. President Mugabe's henchman administers the elections. Freedoms of Assembly and speech have been curtailed. Independent newspapers have been banned and some bombed by State. Therefore March 2008 presidential elections are not going to be free and fair.

South Africa and Britain have millions of exiled Zimbabweans. Hundreds of thousands have managed to get political asylum. Millions in the Diaspora who have fled persecutions, torture, harassment and possible death by murder or deliberate starvation are not being allowed to vote.

South African president was quoted by the Zimbabwean Newspaper saying, 'He is making headway in his mediation efforts...' Mbeki is condemned by both civil and Church leaders for being unhelpful and supporting Mugabe.

Accounts of torture

In the whole of 1997 NGOs have reported 6000 cases of human rights
abuses by state partisans and agencies. A prominent Zimbabwean opposition lawyer, Tendai Biti said, “In real terms, 70% of the budget is devoted to army, CIO(KGB version), the police, militias, and patronage in form of high allocations to women and youth.”

Velathi Ncube an accounting student at University of Sciences and Technology was severely tortured. Ncube said, 'They put us all in one room and told us to lie on the floor on our stomachs, then they started to beat us randomly.'

Angelo Nkomo, a women activist states, 'We were forced to strip naked and lie on our stomachs before dozens of Black Boots (police) beat us with button sticks and leather belts. After that we were interviewed by male police while we were naked.'

Mandla Nyathi of ZCTU, “We were taken into a room whose walls were covered with blood ... they electrocuted my genitals.

40% of 397 interviewed members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) said they have been tortured by police. 26% needed medical treatment for their injuries.

Jendai Frazer told US INFO that, “The attacks, arrests and abductions continue unabated with more than 500 instances of human rights abuses reported each month... the number of victims requiring medical treatment this year (1997) alone was 3463 – really triple that of 2006.”

The whole country is in chaos. Chiefs across the whole country are forcing people to ZANU PF. The notorious youth militias have been mobilized around the country to force people to support Mugabe's ZANU.

Some people have written asking how they can support us. Our small projects are: Bibles and Literature Project, Campaigning for Justice, Relief Aid to the sick & starving. You may send your donation to:

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Collen Makumbirofa
Foundation of Reason & Justice
http://forjustice.atspace.org
Email: zimnews@mail.com
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