Action Alert (updated 22th June ~ 12.00): Senator John Masaba moved from Karoi to Chinhoyi
Updated 22th June ~ 12.00
Senator John Masaba has been moved again; this time from Karoi to the provincial police headquarters in Chinhoyi (so that makes it Kariba -> Karoi -> Chinhoyi). The police have apparently seized all the money he had designated for vehicles and the Kariba rural campaign. Please start calling the Chinhoyi numbers provided below, following our earlier guidelines (see the remainder of this post). Thanks for your support.
Chinhoyi police can be called on + 263 67 22822 or +263 67 22302
Updated 20th June ~ 17.00
We have more details on what happened to Senator John Masaba:
Apparently he hired a vehicle to help him transport relief items for victims of the Zanu PF coordinated attacks against civilians in his home area. He also had campaign materials with him. Neither of these items are illegal.
The police arrested him and the unfortunate owner of the vehicle, and both of them spent the night in jail in Kariba. (Those of you who were told - as we were - that he wasn’t there were not being told the truth).
The owner of the vehicle was then made to use his own transport to drive himself, Senator Masaba and some policemen to Karoi police station.
We understand that Senator Masaba is still at Karoi police station and is being interrogated by CID and CIO officers. We have been advised that all his campaign materials and the relief items have been confiscated.
Senator Masaba is being charged with being in possession of a mask - the type of mask that children use at parties.
The truck he has hired has been impounded. It was meant to return to Harare today and it was supposed to convey 6 wounded people who were brutalised by Zanu PF thugs back to Harare for medical treatment.
Two of these people have multiple limb fractures and have been waiting for this transport for 5 days now; no ambulances will travel to these war-torn areas.
Please call Karoi Police Station and ask that they release Senator Masaba immediately
We understand that what we have told you will make you angry but we stress that all calls must be very polite and respectful. We do not want to anger dangerous Zanu PF loyalists when they have good people in their custody.
Tell them you are aware of what has happened and that you are profoundly shocked that wounded peoiple have been denied a chance to reach medical care, and indeed that they were wounded in the first instance!
Ensure that they know the world knows exactly what has happened in this situation and that the world will all strive to keep on top of this story as it evolves.
Tell them you are also contacting your local MP in your home area wherever you are in the world to make sure they know how democractically elected officials in Zimbabwe are being denied their right to campaign.
Ask them to release the owner of the vehicle and his truck immediately. Driving in Zimbabwe is not a crime, nor is ferrying people to a hospital for medical assistance.
Please assure them that you have the greatest respect for Zimbabwean people and you wish our nation prosperity and peace and happiness. Tell them that you believe the police force can do a great job and that all law abiding people in Zimbabwe are supported around the world.
If the person you are speaking to appears to be listening, don’t forget to ask him to relay messages to those imprisoned - it would be great if they knew that they had well wishers from around the world watching their back.
These are the numbers to call:
Karoi police can be contacted on the following numbers
+263( 64) 6233 / 6234 / 6456 / 8196 .
The Officer Commanding for Karoi is Superintendant Tatsva. The Officer Commanding for the whole Hurungwe area is Superintendant Njiri, also based there, and his personal number is +263 64 7677 or 7008 or 7009.
If you have problems with the landlines, try reaching Superintendant Njiri on his cell number:
+263 11 574614
Updated 20th June ~10.45
We believe that Senator Masaba has been moved from Kariba and we are trying to confirm where he has been taken. When we know more we’ll post further updates. If you are still calling Kariba, perhaps ask them if they know.
Original alert
News received that the newly elected Senator for Kariba constituency (view the constituency from a link on this page) has been arrested:
Senator John Masaba was arrested in Kariba as he was about to leave the town for his rural homestead in Mola. The senator was carrying blankets and food for some of his constituents in Mola whose houses had been burnt down by ZANU PF thugs the previous week.
As well as this the Senator was carrying all the posters of President Tsvangirai for the area.
Police have now detained him at Kariba police station. Despite not carrying any illegal items, the police are refusing to release him.
Please call Kariba Police Station and protest at the arrest of Senator John Masaba. Remind the police that Zimbabwe claims to be a democractic country and that the Senator has been elected by the people. He has a right to campaign and to represent and care for the people who elected him.
Please be polite at all times.
Tell them the world is watching and ask that they treat Senator John Masaba well and release him immediately. Ask the person you are speaking to to relay your best wishes to the Senator on your behalf. Tell them that world wishes peace for all Zimbabweans.
Telephone: +263 61 2444
This information was also sent out on our Twitter account. Create your own Twitter account and link to ours to receive alerts via your cell phone.
June 19th, 2008 21:01
Called them @ 8.56 our time. Spoke to a female who passed me on to a male. They deny that Senator Masaba is with them.
I said I was glad to hear that, as many people are worried for his safety and the safety of those arrested without committing crimes.
He asked me who told me the Senator is there and I said, I saw it on the internet, that there are messages going out and many people who are concerned and want to see peace in Zimbabwe for everyone. He asked was I a relative of the Senator and I said no, just someone who cares about Zimbabwe and that there are many in South Africa who also care.
He referred me to GHQ (I think that’s what he said). So I wished him good night and God bless. Keep the calls going. I don’t think ordinary ZRP realise that their activities are being watched.
June 19th, 2008 22:31
Called 10:25pm Zim time. The phone rang for a good long while before being answered. I asked if Senator Masaba was in custody and the gentleman I spoke with replied that he didn’t know about ‘that’.
From the way he said it, I would guess he has had a few phone calls tonight.
June 19th, 2008 23:06
Called 11pm Zim time and spoke to a gentleman who denied that he had been arrested. Made the points that media were reporting otherwise and we would of course be most concerned if he had been, and we would expect him to be treated well and released immediately. He put the phone down as I was thanking him for his time.
June 21st, 2008 16:08
Spoke with officer at Karoi 4pm Saturday Harare time and asked if he knew whether Senator Masaba had been released yet. He denied that the Senator was there and put the phone down as I was asking him to confirm if the Senator had been in custody at Karoi. Sounded a little stressed.
June 21st, 2008 16:53
Just sms’d Superintendant Njiri on his cell number: +263 11 574614 using skype..
Tip: if you dont want to reveal your mobile number you can send a sms via skype. They see the first 11 characters in their mobile inbox. You can set up new skype names easily and add credit. ‘thabo_mebki’ still available!
June 22nd, 2008 12:54
12:40 pm Sunday Zim time - no luck with either number but reached Chinhoyi ZRP HQ at 263 67 23751 after two or three attempts. Officer taking call, when asked if he could confirm if Sen John Masaba was in custody in Chinhoyi said “I am not sure… I have not confirmed that yet…” I passed on our concerns and said that people elsewhere trust the Chinhoyi Police will treat Sen. Masaba well and that he appears to have been improperly detained, and wished all Zimbabweans well. Officer, a little perplexed, started to ask “Are you…?” then, asked a fellow officer, as if for confirmation.. “Cut it off?” before hanging up.
Events at the stadium in Harare do not bode well with an hour to go. Perhaps we should be prepared for lots of calls to Harare ZRP.