Rugare Gumbo is a bitter man 2QWKHHYHRI=LPEDEZH·VÀUVWGHPRF- UDFWLF HOHFWLRQ LQ  WKH VWDWHFRQ- WUROOHG GDLO\ 7KH +HUDOG FDUULHG WKH IROORZLQJ LQWHUHVWLQJ DUWLFOH EDVHG RQ DQLQWHUYLHZZLWK5XJDUH*XPERQRZ =$183) 6SRNHVSHUVRQ LQ ZKLFK KH VKDUHG KLV YLHZV RQ 5REHUW 0XJDEH DQGKLVDWWLWXGHWRGHPRFUDF\HOHFWLRQV BITTER MAN: Rugare *XPERLVFDSWXUHGLQWKLVÀOH DPRQJRWKHULVVXHV:HUHSURGXFHLWLQ photo. - timeslive IXOOEHORZ0DULRQ'XQFDQUHSRUWHG

e is a bitter man. His eyes blaze at the mention of . A man he says, “stole two years of my life.”H He is Rugare Gumbo, the passion- ate mouthpiece of the recently released ZANU-PF detainees, who is currently for and obtained a BA. An MA followed Mugabe. Then came the Geneva Confer- the centre of one of the most intense po- from Carlton University in Canada and ence in 1976 and I as publicity secretary litical struggles the country has yet seen. and ME [Masters in Eduction] from To- built up Mugabe’s image for the confer- All major parties contesting the general ronto University. “All this time I retained ence. There was already trouble in the election [1980 election] are desperate to my interest in politics and in 1973 when party, but we did not have time to sort it capture the candidacy of these rebels. ,REWDLQHGP\ÀQDOGHJUHH,UHWXUQHGWR out before the conference. Their representatives plague the still the armed struggle. I was immediately “Everything Mugabe is, he owes bewildered men; large women in party made secretary for information on the it to us – the very people he detained. dress hound them. The dissidents are DARE [the Revolutionary After Geneva there was a meeting then it wooed and courted like beautiful wom- Council –a ZANU external wing] under all happened. Mugabe asked me a point en by hungry men. And in the middle, the chairmanshp of Herbert Chitepo. blank question. He said, “Gumbo, do Rugare Gumbo remains calm and placid “It was at the time of the power you want us to dissolve ZANU in order and with his objectives clearly etched VWUXJJOHDQGÀQDOO\WKH5HY1GDEDQLQJL to join the PF [Patriotic Front]?”I said in his mind. “My preoccupation is with Sithole made it clear he no longer sup- yes, if that is the only way we can unite unity, to discover a common base for all ported DARE members. After the as- the people of Zimbabwe because as far ethnic and racial groups in this country sasination of Chitepo in August 1975, as I am concerned the issue of unity is so that they can work together for the fu- there was confusion in the party as to above party politics. ture,” he said. who should succeed to the chairman- “Mugabe said, “I will never leave He was born in Belingwe [re- ship. The next man in the chain was the ZANU. I will do everything that I can named Mberengwa after independence] secretary general of the party – Robert to make sure that we do not unite with district of in 1940, educated Mugabe. We agreed that he was the ob- ZAPU.” Shortly after, we were arrested ÀUVW DW D PLVVLRQ VFKRRO DQG ODWHU DW D vious successor. Senior members of the and detained. When we were detained, government secondary school. From his party came to see me and other DARE Mugabe would come to see us in the pits early teens he was involved in nation- members to ask us what to tell their peo- where we were kept like animals. He alist politics, and at the age of 22 was ple. They were Dzinashe Machingura, would laugh at us, taunt us, we were tor- a branch chairman of the Fort Victoria James Nyikadzinashe, Parker Chipow- tured. He laughed. He enjoyed seeing us [now Masvingo] ZAPU party. era and Soul Sadza. We told them the suffering. He is ruthless. He uses people He was arrested in 1962 for his new leader would be Robert Mugabe. – the Presidents of the Frontline States, part in the attempted organization of We chose him. At this time he was de- people like to build him- a general strike, but was released two tained by Frelimo in Mozambique, and self up and then he tries to destroy them. years later. He then went to America, it was because of letters written by us He cares nothing for the masses to Boston University where he worked that President Samora Machel released &RQWLQXHGRQ3DJH ZANU-PF Escalates Attacks on Facilitation Team, Seeks to Divide SADC On the other larly ZANU-PF sup- DQGÀUPFRPPLWPHQW in South Africa, our hand, a large number porters and allies to democracy, partic- key demands as Zim- of Zimbabwe civil have trained their ularly to the ideals of babwe civics remain society leaders con- arsenal on president free and fair elections unchanged: verged on Windhoek Zuma’s Facilitation – a development that SADC must urgently Coordinator’s to lobby SADC lead- Team, particularly on has so much stung lay out in clear terms, ers - these included Ambassador Lindiwe ZANU-PF. ÀUP SUHFRQGLWLRQV Note representatives from Zulu. A ZANU-PF South Africa’s opin- to ensure democratic National Association position paper that ion on Zimbabwe elections in Zimba- of NGOS, Women’s was circulated at matters, and we are bwe that are without Coalition, Crisis in the Namibia summit counting on Zuma to violence and intimi- Zimbabwe Coalition, strongly criticized remain steadfast and dation and that fully Zimbabwe Lawyers Ambassador Zulu and to strengthen the re- comply with SADC for Human Rights, called for her removal solve of other SADC principles and guide- Zimbabwe Election from the Facilitation leaders who may be lines governing dem- Support Network, the Team. The 22 May prevaricating under a ocratic elections. We Institute for Demo- edition of the state- barrage of propaganda reiterate that, despite dewaMAVHINGA cratic Alternatives, owned but ZANU-PF IURP =$183) RIÀ- talk to the contrary, Zimbabwe and the aligned Sunday Mail cials who are actively Zimbabwe is not National Constitu- weekly newspaper seeking to break the ready for elections tional Assembly. carried a vicious and emerging consensus in 2011 and that on We held two press malicious opinion within SADC and her own, without di- conferences on Zim- piece stating that force SADC to re- rect assistance from babwe on 19 May, ZANU-PF had for- verse Livingstone SADC and the AU, one coordinated by mally lodged a com- Troika resolutions. Zimbabwe lacks ca- SADC CNGO with a plaint with the ANC South Africa must be pacity and political broader focus but also over “the behavior frank with ZANU-PF will to deliver a free touching on Zimba- of Lindiwe Zulu fol- that the Mbeki era is and fair election. bwe and the other co- lowing ‘reckless and long gone, and that it We state un- ordinated by Crisis in LQÁDPPDWRU\· VWDWH- will not be business equivocally that the he 20 May Zimbabwe Coalition ments she allegedly as usual. If ZANU- conditions obtaining special SADC exclusively looking made regarding suc- PF chooses to go for in Zimbabwe such Tsummit in at Zimbabwe and out- cession law in Zim- broke then it must be as widespread state- Windhoek that end- lining key demands to babwe.” The article told in no uncertain sponsored violence, ed up not discuss- SADC regarding pre- quotes a ZANU-PF terms that South Af- partisan application of ing Zimbabwe was conditions for Zimba- RIÀFLDODVKDYLQJVDLG rica will not support the law, increased de- characterized by a bwe elections. Ambassador Zulu any anti-democracy ployment of soldiers ÁXUU\ RI DFWLYLW\ E\ The ZANU- is, “ playing a very tendencies. across the country ZANU-PF support- PF lobby in Wind- cheap and dangerous South Africa openly intimidating HUVDQGRIÀFLDOVZKR hoek was anchored game which can be and SADC must re- citizens and cam- sought to have the on two threats: (1) played by any fool. VSRQG RIÀFLDOO\ WR paigning for ZANU- full SADC Summit That SADC is under What she says about these incessant at- PF and increased ar- do the unprecedented attack from the West our leaders we can tacks on the Facili- rests and harassment – refuse to endorse whose Trojan Horse say about hers with tation Team and its of rights activists SADC Troika resolu- was the SADC Troi- more credibility. She members. SADC and MDC leaders all tions on Zimbabwe ka hence the need to is forgetting that she must not allow po- FRQÀUPWKDWNH\VWDWH taken on 31 March in reverse Livingstone is a mere assistant to litical parties to be in institutions remain Livingstone, Zambia. Troika Resolutions in the facilitator. She is the habit of insulting unreformed and ex- ZANU-PF’s lobby to order to keep SADC just an aide.” LWVRIÀFLDOVDQGLQVWL- tremely partisan and have Zimbabwe dis- united, and (2) If Such a display tutions. SADC must politicized. cussed at the SADC SADC insisted on of fury and vitriol by demonstrate that there These are the failed, with SADC opposing ZANU-PF ZANU-PF support- are consequences that matters that SADC leaders deferring the views, then Zimba- ers is testimony that come with holding its must address directly matter to 11 June in bwe would be with- South Africa’s at- institutions in con- when they meet over South Africa when drawn from SADC in titude towards Zim- tempt. Zimbabwe in South SADC leaders will the same manner that babwe is no longer As prepara- Africa in June. meet on the sidelines Zimbabwe withdrew quiet diplomacy and tions get underway of the COMESA from the Common- acquiescence – under for the SADC special feedback: summit to deliberate wealth. Zuma there is now summit to discuss coordinator@crisisz- of Zimbabwe. But particu- robust engagement Zimbabwe on 11 June imbabwe.org Personal Reflections on the meaning of Africa Day for Zimbabweans ver two years down the line, Zimba- bwe has not yet gotten on the path transition and al- O ONE PEOPLE: most everyone in the coun- This iconic image try is pinning her/his hopes preaches unity on SADC to come up with amongst Africans. - a realistic arrangement for youtube all this madness to end. I call it madness because, it is a fact that on the 29th of March 2008, Prime Minis- ter Morgan Tsvangirayi won the elections and defeated Zimbabwe needs, but the re- evictions, land reform, dent Mugabe and his team to ZANU-PF by a large margin, ality of it is that no one really among others), the list is agree with the other princi- but of course the latter would knows for sure where rev- endless. pals (Prime Minister Tsvan- not hear of transferring pow- enue from diamond sales is All I can say is that, girayi and Deputy Prime er to the opposition. But of going to . Some say, it is the there is very little that Zim- Minister Mutambara and or course, not many knew what lifeline for ZANU-PF and babweans can celebrate dur- Professor ) was coming, the 27th of June ÀQDQFHPLQLVWHU+RQ7HQGDL ing this year’s Africa Day, on a roadmap to elections 2008 presidential runoff Biti should not have any say which is held every year on which will determine who elections, the birth of Global in how the funds from the the 25th of May.it just goes will lead Zimbabwe to the Political Agreement (GPA) diamond sales should be util- to show that when you have right path again. The Zim- in September 2008 and the ised.What a country indeed! one leader ruling a nation for babwe elections roadmap is inclusive government in The socio-economic devel- 31 years without any space set to be discussed at the up- February 2009. Then people opment of any country deter- for other players to take the coming SADC Extraordinary thought that maybe, just mines whether its government lead and offer alternatives, Summit due to take place in maybe, the inclusive govern- is in control of the situation then things indeed fall apart- Johannesburg, South Africa ment will provide a channel or not. Despite the fact that North Africa has given us on 11 June on the sidelines of for its people to heal and rise a number of economic poli- what happens to such rulers. the COMESA Summit in or- from the ashes. The current cies have been put in place to Of course, we must be very der to create a stepping stone environment goes to show revive the economy, we still cautious of what we ask for, towards achieving the ulti- that on the contrary, we are face the same problem- high as only Zimbabweans know mate goal- a concrete frame- back to square one. unemployment, a crumbling what they want at the end work for peace, stability and That a few more health system,unsustained of the day. Sometimes, re- real development. newspapers are now in busi- parastatals that need to be re- moving a leader from power Hence, one can say ness again does not consti- moved from a ‘life support’- does not solve the structural that SADC is truly trying its tute real media freedom. The Air Zimbabwe as a classical challenges that Zimbabwe best to ensure that the region public media still is partisan, example, high charges for still needs to grapple with. I enjoys stability, peace and we still have key government service delivery , high rate of think people have seen that prosperity and the Zimba- institutions, such as the judi- electricity cuts in most urban even though our PM Tsvan- bwean situation becomes a ciary, that need to be trans- areas despite the exorbitant girayi is still in power, he litmus test, on whether it is formed and supported, both charges that ZESA charges sometimes has no say to fun- really committed to its de- WHFKQLFDOO\ DQG ÀQDQFLDOO\ its customers, high school damental national priorities, mocracy and human rights Cases of violence against fees in public and private in- which makes me sooo mad! ideals. Only time will tell. women are not getting a stitutions, lack of adequate At the same time, I also think fair deal in the courts, as in housing for the low and mid- that we have something to most cases the perpetrators dle income groups, crippled celebrate this year on Africa get lighter sentences or get local industries, the unend- Day. scot free. Then we have the ing constitutional reform President Jacob Zuma %\0V7DIDG]ZD0XURSDD ‘booming’ diamond mining SURFHVV XQÀQLVKHG EXVLQHVV of South Africa, who has been JHQGHUDFWLYLVWDQGSROLWLFDO industry which is supposed in addressing past violations tasked by SADC to mediate HFRQRPLVWZRUNLQJZLWKWKH to be part of the lifeline for of people’s rights(politically the Zimbabwean crisis, has 6KHZULWHVWKLVDUWLFOHLQKHU the economic recovery that motivated violence, forced managed to pressurise Presi- SHUVRQDOFDSDFLW\ ZANU-PF abuses renders its Politburo impotent he once almighty former rul- ing party, ZANU-PF‘s high- est decision making organ outside of Congress, the Po- litburo,T whose decisions and policies dominated and determined the national IMPOSING political, economic and social spheres OR IMPO- in the past thirty years of President Rob- TENT? The ert Mugabe’s dictatorship has become ZANU PF impotent because of the organization’s HQ is where human rights abuses which have called the Polit- other national and supra national bodies buro meets. to have a critical say in the affairs of the ÁLFNU. State. In this article, I posit that the de- feat of ZANU PF in the 2008 general elections, the formation of the inclusive government in February 2009 after the signing of the Global Political Agree- ment (GPA) in September 2008, the past dictatorship will result in increased isters that is chaired by Prime Minister involvement of SADC and the AU in domestic, regional and international iso- Morgan Tsvangirai. By virtue of Tsvan- Zimbabwe’s domestic affairs meant the lation of the Mugabe regime. girai chairing this body, it cannot be a erosion of Mugabe’s dictatorship and It is important to note that medium to implement the decisions of consequently the ubiquitous roles of his ZANU-PF has lost control of all urban the ZANU-PF politburo. party’s Central Committee and the Po- councils in Zimbabwe. It does not have What this means is that govern- litburo. a single Mayor in all the towns and cit- ment ministries and departments, un- The role currently being played ies across the country. This is historical like in the past, now have to implement by SADC and South African President, and it marked the harbinger of the ero- national programs and not the decisions Jacob Zuma, the facilitator to the Zim- sion of the powers of the politburo. It of ZANU-PF. That is the beauty of de- babwean political dispute between the tells us that the bravado claims of being mocracy and a clearer indication of the two formations of the Movement for a party of the people are nothing but de- impotence of ZANU-PF party organs in Democratic Change (MDC) and ZANU- lusional. the administration of national affairs. PF clearly indicates the impotence of the All these political misfortunes It is at the cabinet level that the call for ZANU-PF politburo. A close look at the that befell ZANU-PF were predictable elections in 2011 by ZANU-PF irrespec- outcomes of the Livingstone and Wind- after years of human rights abuses from tive of the need to democratize both the hoek SADC meetings to address the the party’s “dinner“ of human abuses administrative and political environment =LPEDEZHDQFULVLVZLOODVVLVWWRFRQÀUP during the Matabeleland and Midlands attendant to the holding of free and fair my hypothesis. massacres to its “dessert” that marked elections hit a snag. Any unilateral de-  7KH GLIÀFXOWLHV IDFLQJ =$18 all elections from 1990 to the June 2008 cision by ZANU-PF will invite regional PF and its leadership to impose elections presidential run-off in terms of the menu intervention which in most cases won’t on Zimbabweans because of a chorus of of human rights violations in post inde- support dictatorial measures in the con- domestic and regional outcries that con- pendent Zimbabwe. text of inclusivity. ditions for holding elections are absent is The consummation of the Inclu- The position of the ZANU-PF a case that indicates that the communist- sive Government in February 2009 after politburo is now treated in the same style Politburo has been rendered useless the signing of the GPA meant that there manner as the positions of the National by the winds of democratic transparency were several power centers in the coun- Executives of the two formations of the and accountability that have been an try. Firstly, Mugabe’s executive powers, MDC. It is merely a position of a politi- anathema to Mugabe’s political gover- although they remained largely intact cal party. The only difference between nance for the past thirty years. had some little checks and over sight. the position of ZANU-PF and those of Firstly, the outcome of the 29 The cabinet, which was virtually an im- the MDC could be the malign and ego- March 2008 general elections in which plementing body of the ZANU-PF polit- centric nature of the ZANU-PF’s call for ZANU-PF lost the Parliamentary elec- buro in the days of Mugabe’s one-party elections without attendant democratic tions in virtually all urban municipalities rule, became a forum of democratic and reforms. and the mildly free and fair Presidential autocratic power struggles between the In the case of national security re- elections where Mugabe lost to Prime two formations of the MDC and ZANU- forms, the decisions of the politburo still Minister, Morgan Tsvangirai before the PF respectively. stand because of the control invested violent June 2008 presidential run-off The Cabinet, as it stands, is no LQWKH3UHVLGHQW·V2IÀFHE\WKHFXUUHQW election meant that it will not be business longer a rubber-stamping institution for Constitution as well as the failure by the as usual in the administration of national decisions of Mugabe’s Central Commit- negotiators to the GPA to clearly address affairs. The era of Politburo unilateral- tee and Politburo because of its compo- the ubiquitous nature of the securocrats ism is long gone. Any attempts to revive sition. There is also the Council of Min- &RQWLQXHGRQ3DJH Where dissidents are the prey and horror is a weapon

Author, Pe- ter Godwin (left) is pic- tured here in conversation with exiled Member of Parliament, (right) at Wits Univer- sity on 18 November, 2010. - zim- babweinpic- tures.com

n authoritarian government dential candidate, saying he could not their gruesome political stigmata. And willing to use the most brutal ask people to come out to vote for him in their home communities, their return Ameans to hold on to power; a “when that vote would cost them their causes ripples of anxiety to spread.” The dictator whose thugs have murdered, lives.” people have given this time of violence tortured, imprisoned or intimidated tens A so-called power-sharing gov- and suffering its own name, chidudu — of thousands of civilians; and individu- ernment has been in place since 2008, meaning “the fear.” als who have risked their lives simply to EXW0U0XJDEHKDVUHPDLQHGÀUPO\LQ In reporting this book Mr. God- exercise their most fundamental rights control; more than a quarter of his oppo- win travelled back to the country where — this is the state of affairs not only nents in Parliament have been arrested, he grew up, despite the dangers: “not in Libya today, but also in Zimbabwe, according to the Movement for Demo- only from Mugabe’s banning of West- which has suffered the ravages of more cratic Change and human-rights law- ern journalists, but also because I was than 30 years under the autocratic rule yers. Despite rumours about his health, once declared an enemy of the state, ac- of President Robert Mugabe. Mr. Mugabe declared last week that he cused of spying.” He uses his intimate In his chilling new book, “The intended to run for president this year at knowledge of Zimbabwe to introduce Fear,” the journalist Peter Godwin the age of 87, and political violence is readers to opposition leaders, church gives readers an unsparing account of reportedly already increasing. authorities, foreign diplomats and ordi- the horrors that Mr. Mugabe’s regime In “The Fear” Mr. Godwin chron- nary people who have ended up in hos- KDV LQÁLFWHG RQ WKH SHRSOH RI =LPED- icles the savagery of Mr. Mugabe’s re- pitals or as refugees — beaten, muti- EZH'XULQJKLVWKUHHGHFDGHVLQRIÀFH gime in harrowing detail. Some observ- lated, raped and terrorized, their houses the country’s economy has tanked: ag- ers, he notes, call what has happened in burned to the ground. ricultural production has plummeted, Zimbabwe “politicide”: “As genocide is This volume lacks the intimacy unemployment and food shortages an attempt to wipe out an ethnic group, of the author’s two affecting memoirs KDYH PXOWLSOLHG LQÁDWLRQ KDV VRDUHG so politicide is the practice of wiping out about Zimbabwe (“Mukiwa: A White and much of the country’s middle class an entire political movement.” Boy in Africa” and “When a Croco- KDV ÁHG $,'6 FDVHV KDYH H[SORGHG The murders carried out by the presi- dile Eats the Sun”), and it sometimes and medicine and medical help are in dent’s supporters and riot police around assumes a little too much familiarity increasingly short supply. the time of the 2008 election, Mr. God- on the part of the lay reader with that Hopes that Mr. Mugabe’s days win says, were “accompanied by torture country’s tragic history. But it remains as president might actually be num- and rape on an industrial scale, commit- a document that should be read by bered were dashed in the weeks lead- ted on a catch-and-release basis”: “When DQ\RQHLQWHUHVWHGLQWKHVDFULÀFHVWKDW ing up to a runoff election in June 2008, those who survive, terribly injured, people are willing to make for the sake when supporters of the opposition limp home, or are carried or pushed in of democracy — a timely document, leader Morgan Tsvangirai of the Move- wheelbarrows, or on the backs of pickup indeed, given the democratic uprisings ment for Democratic Change came un- trucks, they act like human billboards, taking place this spring in northern Af- der violent attack, and Mr. Tsvangirai advertising the appalling consequences rica and the Middle East. Not only is announced his withdrawal as a presi- of opposition to the tyranny, bearing &RQWLQXHGRQ3DJH ZANU-PF abuses renders its Politburo impotent )URP3DJH upon the Zimbabwean Inclu- ment of Prime Minister Ntsu away from visiting Harare. in Zimbabwean politics es- sive government to lay out a Mokhele. It is naïve for anyone to argue pecially their partisan behav- clear democratic road map to Mugabe made it clear that ZANU-PF agreed with ior. future elections clearly shows that the King had no option the decision to postpone the Where the GPA that the calls by ZANU-PF but to reinstate the govern- Zimbabwean issue to June. If sought to create a National to have elections on its own ment. He also outlined the that was their reasoning why Security Council, the securo- terms could be hallucinatory consequences of not imple- did they go to Namibia with crats working in cahoots with and suicidal. menting the order. the negotiating team of Nich- ZANU-PF have blatantly re- Despite spirited cam- ´,ZLVKRQEHKDOIRI olas Goche, Patrick China- fused to reform and the par- paigns in Namibia by the re- P\FROOHDJXHVDQGP\VHOIWR masa and Emmerson Mnan- tisan and violent-ridden Joint gime and its surrogates such GUDZ \RXU 0DMHVW\·V DWWHQ- gagwa who has been moving Operations Command (JOC) as Goodison Nguni heading WLRQWRWKHQHHGIRUWKHUHVWR- around the region trying to remains intact and continues a bogus group called the All UDWLRQRIFRQVWLWXWLRQDOLW\LQ coerce regional leaders to en- with its poisonous political Africa Associations of Non- /HVRWKR ZLWKLQ D VHYHQGD\ dorse the Politburo decision activities. This explains why Governmental Organizations SHULRG IROORZLQJ WKH 3UHWR- to hold elections this year at democratic forces in Zim- as well as ZANU-PF’s youth ULD PHHWLQJ«

CALL TO ACTION: The pro-longed Zimbawe crisis has made it inevi- table for both SADC and AU to treat it as an urgent matter. -zimbabweinpic- tures

)URP3DJH book is devastating, and the accounts that Without outside food or medicine, Mr. “The Fear” a valuable work of testimony Mr. Godwin has collected, as the saying Godwin writes, “the average inmate is ³ÀOOHGZLWKÀUVWKDQGDFFRXQWVRIZLW- goes in Zimbabwe, are “just the ears of dead within a year.” QHVVHVWRWKHPRVWKRUULÀFFULPHV³EXW the hippo.” There are many more stories One of the most haunting stories it is also a haunting testament to those and much more pain right below the in this volume is that of Chenjerai Mang- survivors’ courage and determination. surface. Thousands of people, he says, ezo, who was nearly beaten to death af- Among the ordinary citizens de- have simply gone missing: “Bodies are ter winning as a movement candidate picted in these pages is Tichanzii Gan- being found bobbing at the spillway of for a rural district council. Though his danga, who worked for the Movement dams; other are discovered in the bush, body was completely immobilized in for Democratic Change. Mr. Godwin re- dumped by their murderers, miles and plaster, Mr. Godwin says, Mr. Mangezo ports that Mr. Gandanga was kidnapped miles from where they were abducted. insisted on attending the swearing-in by thugs he believes were members of In some particularly gruesome cases, the ceremony, and he was driven there lying President Mugabe’s spying agency, victims have been castrated, their testi- on foam mattresses heaped in the back lashed with whips made from tire rubber cles stuffed in their mouths, or their eyes of a pickup truck. He has continued to and kicked in the face. His tormentors gouged out. Many will never be found. attend council meetings, sitting along- then dragged him naked into the road Some 10,000 people have been tortured. side some of the very Mugabe support- and ran over his legs twice with their Twenty thousand have had their houses ers who oversaw his beating. car. burned down — up to 200,000 are now What, besides courage, has en- Denias Dombo, a farmer who displaced.” abled Mr. Mangezo to sit there with his also worked as a district organizing sec- As for prison conditions in the persecutors? “Is it fatalism, a quality retary for the movement, Mr. Godwin country, Mr. Godwin contends, they are that Westerners see in Africans?” Mr. writes, watched as Mugabe supporters miserable — another index “by which to Godwin asks. “Westerners often mis- burned down his house, and he was then measure the depths of depravity of Rob- take African endurance, and the lack of assaulted with rocks, iron bars and heavy ert Mugabe’s Zimbabwe.” A freelance self-pity, for fatalism. No, I think the sticks. According to Mr. Godwin, one saw miller named Shane Kidd, who was other quality in Chenjerai Mangezo is leg was broken, an arm was shattered thrown in prison after renting a room to patience, a dogged tenacity. He hasn’t and several ribs fractured. His means of the Movement for Democratic Change given up on getting justice. But he will making a living, his plough and cultiva- WRXVHDVDQRIÀFHUHFRXQWVLQWKHVHSDJ- wait for it.” tor, were stolen; his cattle killed. He was es how policemen would spray freezing “People like Chenjerai,” he goes XQDEOHWRÀQGKLVZLIHDQGFKLOGUHQ water and sometimes throw buckets of on, “are the real asine mabvi — the men Dadirai Chipiro, a former nurs- urine through the prison bars, dousing without knees. Not only were his legs ery school teacher and the wife of an the prisoners and their thin blankets and covered by plaster casts for months, electoral organizer for the Movement OHDYLQJWKHFHOOÁRRUVDQNOHGHHSLQZD- but he has refused to kneel, refused to for Democratic Change, did not survive ter. prostrate himself before the dictatorship, an attack by government agents. They The opposition leader Roy Ben- whatever the consequences.” hacked off her right hand and both her nett reports that in Mutare Remand Pris- feet, Mr. Godwin says, dragged her back on rations had been cut to one meal from LQWRKHUKRXVHDQGVHWLWRQÀUHZLWKD three, and that many inmates suffer from gasoline bomb. SHOODJUDDVHYHUHYLWDPLQGHÀFLHQF\WKDW 7KLVDUWLFOHRULJLQDOO\DSSHDUHGLQ7KH The litany of suffering in this was common in Soviet labour camps. 1HZ

READY TO POUNCE: Members of the Zimbabwe Republic Police. -allvoices.com

laying any charges against them. the police power to sanction meetings. esterday, 24 May, for Recently police in Tsholotsho The two ZIMRIGHTS employ- over two hours police de- GHÀHG D FRXUW RUGHU JUDQWLQJ =LPED- ees remain in custody at Nyamandlovu tained three civil society bwe Human Rights Association (ZIM- police station. Police have denied law- activists – Villem Nyama RIGHTS) permission to hold an anti- yers access the two detained activists. and Tsungai Vere of Cen- torture workshop at Tshino business The unlawful conduct by the Ytre for Community Development in Zim- centre and disrupted the workshop. police is a display of utter disrespect babwe (CCDZ) and Glanis Changachir- Police arrested two ZIMRIGHTS of basic rights and an affront to the let- ere of the Institute for Young Women. employees – Ms Florence Ndlovu and ter and spirit of the Livingstone SADC The three were detained at a Walter Dube accusing them of conven- Troika resolutions which called for an roadblock near Nzvimbo in Masho- ing an unsanctioned meeting. Police immediate end to violence, harassment, naland central province. The po- action amounts to harassment and per- intimidation and any other actions that OLFH FRQVÀFDWHG ÁLHUV DQG SRVWHUV secution of civil society activists as violate the letter and spirit of the GPA. before releasing the three without there is no law in Zimbabwe that grants >Africa Day Zimbabwe Public Seminar: University of Kwazulu Natal (Howard College) UPCOMING Durban, 25 May > Human Rights and Democracy Training on Social & Economic Rights, Buhera, 25 ACTIVITIES May

Published by the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition 6RXWK$IULFD5HJLRQDO2IÀFH Editor: Dewa Mavhinga

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