Action Alert (updated 14 June ~ 13.00): MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti in court
Updated: 14 June ~13.00 – Tendai Biti in court
The MDC have said that Tendai Biti is currently appearing in court
Updated: 13 June ~14.15 – Tendai Biti is still missing
Its now more than 24 hours since the arrest of the Movement for Democratic Change Secretary General, Tendai Biti, and the MDC, despite all frantic efforts, still cannot locate him. The MDC has depatched a team of lawyers and human rights defenders to every possible police station in Harare in an effort to secure his whereabouts. The MDC is deeply worried about the welfare of the Secretary General. Given the gravity of the otherwise ludicrous charges that have been preferred againt Mr Biti, it is critical that Mr Biti be able to have access to legal representation.
The Mugabe regime has been threatening to arrest Mr Biti for a long time, which means they have had ample time to prepare for the charges which they have preferred against him. It must then follow that they should bring Mr Biti before an impartial court forthwith, failing which they must release him unharmed.
Since Mr Biti is in police custody, the state must take full responsibility for whatever may be happening to him.
Updated: ~ 18.15 – Tendai Biti missing and the MDC are very concerned about his welfare
NB: Contact telephone numbers added to our appeal. Please see highlighted text below
Despite intensive efforts by numerous MDC legal and human rights representatives there is still no firm evidence as to the whereabouts of the party’s Secretary General, Tendai Biti.
Mr Biti flew into Harare from Johannesburg at 12.20 this afternoon and was escorted off the plane by 10 policemen. He was forced into an unmarked vehicle and has not been seen since.
The MDC is extremely concerned about the welfare of the Secretary General given the flagrant disregard for the rule of law and ongoing, state-sanctioned political violence and abductions currently prevalent in Zimbabwe.
The MDC calls upon Police Commissioner Augustine Chihuri to immediately reveal Mr Biti’s location and release him unharmed immediately. ( via an MDC Press Release)
Updated: ~ 17.15
The BBC are reporting that the police will charge Tendai Biti with treason.
Updated: ~ 13.50
This email just received:
Movement for Democratic Change Secretary General, Tendai Biti, was arrested the Harare International Airport just after mid-day today by plain clothes police officers upon arrival from South Africa.
Mr Biti, who is also the MP for Harare East was arrested just after getting off a South African Airways plane and before he had his passport stamped. Ten men in plain clothes whisked him away. He was then driven in a twin cab truck registration number AAO 3822 and his whereabouts are unknown.
We also received another email from a source saying that a UN assistant to the Secretary General on Political Affairs, sent by Ban-Ki-moon, was on the same flight from South Africa as Tendai Bitit. This information is unverified, but if true we hope the UN assistant is reporting back straight away – what an introduction to Zimbabwe’s ‘political affairs’!
Take action:
We are trying to find out where Tendia Biti has been taken. In the meanwhile, please can we ask everyone to start calling the Zimbabwean Embassies in their own country and demand that he is treated fairly; make sure that they are aware you are all watching and on alert.
Please call Augustine Chihuri. We believe that this is his home telephone number +263 (0)4 862410. It is possible that this is his cell phone number: +263 (0)11 808290
These are contact numbers for Harare Central Police Station. Please call and ask where he is. Dialing codes for all the numbers are +263 (0)4:
+263 (0)4 732589; 733030; 733733; 733734; 735760; 735832; 735833
Can you also contact these Permanent Representatives of the UN, alerting them to what has happened and asking them to monitor the sitution closely.
newyorkUN@diplobel.be; ptri@indonesiamission-ny.org; sacg@southafrica-newyork.net; info.italyun@esteri.it; info@vietnam-un.org; costarica@un.int; misioncostaricaun@yahoo.com; emb@panama-un.org; chinamission_un@fmprc.gov.cn; chinamission_un@fmprc.gov.cn; bfapm@un.int;
france@franceonu.org; rusun@un.int; USUNPublicAffairs@state.gov; UK@UN.int
Email, call and fax Levy Mwanawasa, the current SADC Chairperson:
Name: Mwanawasa, Levy
Job title: President of Zambia; Chairperson of SADC
Email 1: differmu@nkwazi.gov.zm
Telephone 1: +260 1 266147
Telephone 2: +260 1 262094
Fax Number: +260 1 266092
Individual’s Personal Website: http://www.statehouse.gov.zm/
Physical Address: Independence Avenue Woodlands Lusaka Zambia 10101 P.O Box 30135
Website address: http://www.statehouse.gov.zm/
Contact Thabo Mbeki, the appointed mediator of the crisis in Zimbabwe:
Name: Mbeki, Thabo
Job title: President of South Africa
Email 1: president@po.gov.za
Telephone 1: +27 (0)12 300 5200
Telephone 2: +27 (0)21 464 2100
Fax Number: +27 (0)12 323 8246 and +27 (0)12 461 2838
Physical Address: Private Bag X1000, PRETORIA, 0001 Union Buildings, Government Avenue PRETORIA Private Bag X1000, CAPE TOWN, 8000 Tuynhuys Building, Parliament Street, CAPE TOWN
Copy communication to Thabo Mbeki to Mukoni Ratshitanga, his spokesperson:
Name: Ratshitanga, Mukoni
Job title: Thabo Mbeki’s Presidential Spokesperson
Email 1: mukoni@po.gov.za
Email 2: mukoni@mweb.co.za
~13.10
“MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti has just been arrested at Harare International Airport upon arrival”: this is a short press release just received via email.
We don’t have any more information than this at the moment, but as soon as we do we’ll let you know and ask you to get ready tostand with us and help to ‘watch his back’ and keep him safe.
Earlier today we received this email, clearly revealing that the party was concerned this might happen:
Movement for Democratic Change Secretary General, Tendai Biti is currently flying back to Zimbabwe, Harare despite having received direct threats of arrest from the Mugabe regime. He is expected to land at Harare International Airport at 1220hrs, on board South African Airways.
Shortly before his departure, he stated that, “Notwithstanding the threats of arrest, I am going back to Zimbabwe because I take seriously the mandate that I have had the privilege of being given by the people of Zimbabwe, to be part of the leadership of those that wish to see a democratic and prosperous Zimbabwe. They have said, lets finish it, and begin a new Zimbabwe of hope, jobs, education, health care and a functioning economy.”
He further added that, ” I am prepared to meet whatever will come my way in this long and difficult, but noble road to Zimbabwe’s democracy”
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June 12th, 2008 13:43
Meanwhile, let’s make some polite enquiries with the airport police, perhaps?
04 575601
04 575602
June 12th, 2008 15:07
Just called the second number above (15:00 Harare time). A very patient officer took the call, and when I expressed my concerns, he told me that I need to speak to another officer, who he then contacted (I could hear the phone calls in the background including ..”calling from Australia..”). He than came back to the phone and advised me to contact the General Police Headquarters. I wished Zimabweans well and assured him that this arrest was already headline news around the world.
June 12th, 2008 19:16
Let us not let these acts deter us to win. The end of this is near. God will heal our land from this and I believe that. Zimbos don’t lose hope just put your cross next to Morgan and a bright future awaits us all.Let us show the world we can be the example at all adversity to win, even if the rest of the world just sit back and watch.It is a disgrace to think our Mr Mbeki just pretends there is no crisis, but it is ok we will survive we have been through 28 yrs of hell allready, we are a strong nation and proud of the fact that we stand for democracy, not dictatorship.
June 12th, 2008 19:26
It makes no sense whatsoever to accuse MDC Secretary General Tendai Biti of treason. How can the group leaders of a minority party accuse an official of a majority party of being a traitor to the very government that they are attempting to establish? This is Alice in Wonderland politics.
As for accusations of treason, these could certainly be levelled at Mugabe, his henchmen and political supporters. They are the ones betraying the nation. It is their verifiable treasonable actions which have undermined the cause of the Zimbabwean people for their own ignominious ends. Unable to enter into a ‘give and take’ relationship with other politicians which might have afforded him an opportunity of resolving political and economic conflicts in a realistic manner, he tries to justify his hold on power by projecting the nation’s problems as the fault of the West. He has degraded a once prosperous nation and is a traitor to his fellow countrymen.
June 13th, 2008 16:18
Let us all pray to God almighty for the safe return of Tendai, what hard hearted people have these Zimbabweans become. Yes I agree with exbulawayo, God will heal our land. I continute to stand on prayer and fasting for all the Zimbabwean children, but we need to do it corporately so that the Heavens will open wide the gates of salvation. Only God can do this people, we have to really Pray Hard….
June 13th, 2008 16:34
Hi Sokwanele
My thoughts are with Mr Biti. I hope that he is well and will be located soon.
I am not sure if you have seen this, I have just found it and it looks positive in the sense of African leadership taking a stand against tyranny in Zimbabwe:
http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/africa/7452326.stm
I hope they publish the letter because this is something that I think is useful shared with everyone.
Nana
June 13th, 2008 22:55
@Sokwanele
The open letter to the Zimbabwean government from African dignitaries can be viewed at:
http://www.zimbabwe-27june.com/
They are asking for signatures:
‘We invite you as individuals, and as representatives of civil society organisations to join our call by adding your signature to the letter.’
June 14th, 2008 21:44
Tendai Biti’s lawyer said that he will be taken to the Matapi police station in the Harare township of Mbare. Do we have confirmation on this?
June 15th, 2008 04:41
I Called the number 575601 from Barbados here in the Caribbean and spoke to an officer and informed him the world is watching. Violence against man or animal is wrong and even worst when it is black against black. Mugabe and every police or soldier who harms any civilian must be made aware that they will be brought to trial in the Hague for crimes against humanity.
June 16th, 2008 11:07
hello all thank you so much for the support you have shown my father the last couple of days have been tough for our family but its overwhelming the amount of support from well wishers we have been getting .My dads bravery inspires me every day he is a great man so thank you once for your prayers and i hope that the 27th brings an end to the suffering