Action Alert: Contact SADC about the murders and escalating violence in Zimbabwe
We’ve just received a shocking media alert from the MDC of four murders.
Four MDC youths were this morning found dead after Zanu PF and state security agents had abducted them in Chitungwiza yesterday morning.
Yuana Jenti, Archford Chipiyo, Ngoni Knight and another who has only been identified as Tyson at the moment were found dead in the early hours of this morning with serious body injuries showing that they were heavily tortured until they died.
There is a sombre mood in Chitungwiza as the residents are failing to come to terms with these shocking deaths.
The four were abducted at the MDC councillor for Ward 19, Councillor Philimon Chipiyo in Unit F. Archford is the son of the councillor. Just before the abduction the home of the councillor along with four other houses in the area had been petrol bombed by Zanu PF thugs.
The other house was petrol bombed is that of St Mary’s MP Marvellous Khumalo.
The BBC have carried news of the killings as well, adding that SADC observers have actually witnessed people being shot dead. In the same article the BBC cites a western diplomat who said “It is time to move on from calling it a campaign of violence. This is now terror, plain and simple.”
An earlier media release from the MDC describes the situation in Harare. This follows up on our post from a couple of days ago where we reported that we were hearing news via the grapevine of violent rampages in Harare.
There is now clear evidence that the Mugabe regime is systematically broadening its campaign of terror against innocent Zimbabweans as the ZANU PF youth militia is now being deployed, in military style, into the high density areas in urban areas.
Last night MDC supporters were attacked in Mbare, Rugare high density township by a group of ZANU PF militia named the Chipango (”our agreement”) group. This group has installed subchiefs in most of Harare’s high density townships and warned that they had serial numbers of the ballot papers that would used in the 27 June election, and that they will kill those who vote for President Tsvangirai.
In the 29th of March election the MDC resoundingly won the Parliamentary seat in this area of Mbare.
Reports this morning indicate that the terror campaign has moved into Harare high density township of Dzivarasekwa.
Yesterday, President Tsvangirai noted that it is clear that Mr. Mugabe is now operating like a warlord rather than a head of state. As the situation continues to deteriorate, the MDC calls on African leaders to unequivocally condemn the brutality of those within the Mugabe regime intent on destroying their own people.
Statements made by Botswana and Tanzania are a welcome signal to the Zimbabwean people that they are not alone, and that at least a few key SADC leaders are taking notice of violent breaches of regional election protocols and established democratic traditions. MDC has long stated that the Zimbabwe problem is an African problem that urgently requires an African solution. The need for a solution has never been more urgent.
Please send a message to SADC that the murders and violence have to STOP!
We’re asking you to again contact the usual crowd and tell them again that the situation is unacceptable and they need to take action. Please send carefully worded emails to Thabo Mbeki, the mediator in this crisis and to Levy Mwanawasa, the SADC Chairperson.
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
Email SADC
Please email the National Contact people for SADC and tell them that this sort of thing is unacceptable and a message must be sent to the Zanu PF regime - and to Thabo Mbeki - that the violence needs to stop immediately. Please copy your emails to SADC to Thabo Mbeki and Mukoni Ratshitanga so that they know we are appealing to the wider SADC members.
Email addresses for SADC National Contact people below (their full names and addresses available on our Action Contact Database)
differmu@nkwazi.gov.zm;
tmothae@sadc.int;
registry@sadc.int;
bmorias@minplan.gov.ao;
learao13@yahoo.com;
foreign@malawi.net;
fernandes@consadc.co.mz;
dasadc@minec.gov.mz;
ndishishi@mti.gov.na;
johanna@mti.gov.na;
duartej@foreign.gov.za;
madumanem@foreign.gov.za;
mamabolol@foreign.gov.za;
directorj@sadchrd.org.sz;
mcusis@yahoo.com;
zjmasanja@yahoo.com;
foreignlsk@zamtel.zm;
fmaonera@mweb.co.zw;
sadczim@yahoo.com;
gumbezererata@yahoo.com;
wmandlebe@gov.bw;
amadikwe@gov.bw;
rdcongo@lantic.net;
plannoff@dec.planning.gov.ls;
mrakhoba@finance.gov.ls;
angelanirina@yahoo.com
This information was also sent out on our Twitter account and link to ours to receive alerts via your cell phone.
June 24th, 2008 11:12
Hallo Sokwanele,
I am a British Citizen. I was lucky enough to be born into an anti-apartheid family. I was lucky enough to see Nelson Mandela on his first visit to the UK after his release in 1990. I was lucky enough to visit Zimbabwe in 1990 and to share my optimism with the Zimbawians. I was lucky enough to see Thomas Mapfumo live at the Queens Hotel in Harare, and luckier still to interview him there.
I am a lucky man. Zimbabwe has not been so lucky.
Thankyou for giving the people in Zimbabwe hope.
Thankyou.
June 24th, 2008 11:18
In fact. thinking about it, the only sensible thing to do is to call for a boycott of the Football World Cup in 2010. This may be the only way to get Mbeki to care.
What do people here think of that?
June 24th, 2008 15:49
I think its the only way,,,, but frankly would any football supporters in the rest of the world actually care that much? It seems the fervour of the anti-apartheid, anti-rhodesian era has died out.
June 24th, 2008 17:10
I think lobbying for a boycott of the 2010 world cup is an excellent idea, and will bring widespread attention to the issue. The only trouble is that Zimbabweans cannot wait until 2010 to be in the spotlight, so the campaigning needs to start now. If anyone knows where to find the contact information for the organizers of the world cup, the governing bodies, and the organisations governing the teams that will be participating in the world cup, please post them here so they can be added to the contact database and people can start lobbying them.
June 24th, 2008 17:54
Would it be right and good for Mr. Mendela to intervene? One word from Mandela, and Mugabe would be reduced to the ant he truly is. In fact, half a word would do it! In fact, Mugabe is less than an ant!
I remember a COSATU man once said to me - “revolution is like a train - some people get off at National Liberation - but I want to go to the end of the line.” That certainly is the case with Mugabe - because the solution in Zimbabwe seems to be MORE than simply being “Anti-Colonial”. Of course we should all be anti-colonial. But we must also be against ALL kinds of dictatorship, even those which are anti-colonial.
Please let’s do what we can to free Zimbabwe from this aweful nightmare! Viva Zimbabwe!
June 24th, 2008 19:24
Just received a text message from someone in Harare. People are being forced to attend all- night Pungwes in the middle of HARARE. They are said to be in the process of being re educated under the most violent of conditions all night long.