Wilson Jori (65) - tortured in Buhera South
Wilson Jori (65) from Ward 28, Jori Village, Headman Chimombe, Chief Nyashanu in Buhera South was fined 8 goats and 18 chickens for being an MDC sympathiser before being severely assaulted and tortured after he was forced to attend a ZANU PF rally on 17 July 2008.
Jori said ZANU PF militias forced all people in Chimombe Village to attend what they termed ‘victory celebration meeting’ at around 10.00hrs. It was during the meeting that the militias demanded the goats and chickens from all MDC sympathisers and later beat them severely on their back and buttocks using electrtric cables, wire, logs and sjambocks ‘to be certain that they have rejoined ZANU PF’.
Among the militias were Peter Madangure, Musi Chikobvore, Benson Mandizha, Tungamirai Matanga, Peter Chatikobo, Kuda Murove, Muchuru Mazenge, Akira Munamati and ZANU PF losing councillor candidate Boas Chimombe.
Since then Jori has been living in agony in Buhera without medication. All the victims have been denied permission by their assailants to travel for help.
Jori was able to escape to the Mutare MDC offices on the 22 July 2008 for treatment.
Besides Jori there are more than 20 MDC activists in Buhera South who he says have deeper wounds, some of them developing maggots in their injuries, as the ZANU militias are denying them freedom to move from one place to the other and seek treatment. They are in agony with some unable to sit or sleep properly.
This report about Jori follows on from our post this morning which described how a rescue mission to fetch the injured resulted in two MDC activists being abducted and the MP for the area going missing.
July 28th, 2008 18:20
Email sent to various people and organisations:
Dear Representatives, Here, in pictures, is the reason why Zimbabweans do not trust these talks despite cautious expressions of optimism. The MDC has been forced into these negotiations by enormous violence against its supporters, but as yet there has been little indication that ZANU-PF is willing to call off the dogs of war, especially in areas like Buhera, Manicaland. The rightfully elected MP for the area, Mr Naison Nemadziwa, has been forced to flee into the mountains after trying to rescue a number of people who, like Mr Jori, had festering wounds and were being prevented by militia from seeking medical care. This same MP was previously abducted by militia in Harare - what a huge threat he
must be to someone, who keeps ordering his illegal detention! When will ZANU-PF finally get the message that the masses of the people want them to go? Why should any Western country consider lifting sanctions or not applying further sanctions, when pictures like this keep surfacing?
I defy anyone, even Mr Aziz Pahad with his heart of stone, to look right into the eyes of this dignified elder of our people and continue to deny that crimes against humanity
are happening in Zimbabwe, right now. Look at his face, African leaders, he is waiting to hear your words. What will you say to him?
July 28th, 2008 19:04
@Sokwanele
Please note latest re talks:
Zimbabwe talks are ‘deadlocked’ (BBC) http://news.bbc.co.uk/2/hi/uk_news/england/london/7529623.stm
July 28th, 2008 23:52
Thanks Tara for this
Anyway anyone surprised by this should be very poorly informed about the politics and history of the nation especially zanu under mugabe.
Zanu is not even ashamed of its undignified stance after its violent campaign, loss at the elections and downright arrogance in front of the world. They have lost their souls (if ever they had any)
Watch out for Mutambara he may take the bait and VOILA!! ZANU WILL HAVE SOME BREATHING SPACE.
I have always been suspicious of the fast tracked conditions for the talks. Mbeki seems to have already elevated zanu before the talks even take off.
While the MDC has two leaders. What a circus!!
What cheek from zanu, offering a legitimate leader a third presidential deputising post.
Stinks to high heaven!!
July 29th, 2008 04:11
Mugabe and his JOC clowns are treating this whole ‘talks’ thing as joke, just like they’ve treated the people of Zimbabwe as a joke for years.
Once again they’ll stretch these ‘talks’ out to sort out their next move, just like stretching out the results after the March elections.
Meanwhile, MDC supporters still getting beaten up, tortured and killed, foreign journalists are murdered, humanitarian aid forbidden, people are starving, and it’s all being treated as a joke.
Mbeki and his handshake and hugging opportunities with world leaders, is also a joke. He should hang his head in shame.
The world is fed up with these unfunny clowns in this sad circus.
July 29th, 2008 10:53
RE: Wilson Jori.
This man was tortured for refusing to be zanu. Others have been murdered in horrible circumstances.
Zimbabweans are dying, starving and losing their dignity as they are scatered all over the world and southern africa.
Their economy has been messed up by a few army generals, thieves and murderers in the name of African pride and independence. Nonsense uttered to preserve the wealth of a few.
Farms were dismentled, confiscated from their rightful owners and so were mines and various business interests in the name of independence.
And AZIZ PAHAD says the outside world is interefering by imposing sanctions.
I challenge him to offer his buttocks for a thorough beating by these militia. Then he will understand what we are talking about.
A deputy foreign minister of south africa who doesn’t understand the economic and political plight of Zimbabweans should understnd that he is not worth the title he has been given.
July 29th, 2008 12:01
Buhera district is suffering for the sole reason that it is the rural home of Morgan Tsvangirai.
How I wish he was from ZVIMBA. robert mugabe’s home.
Smacks of similar conditions of persecution on a region whose leaders finally succumbed to be mugabe’s toys.
July 30th, 2008 00:06
I cannot believe that fellow zimbabweans can turn against one another over some political parties. What has our world come to!where is the sanctity for human life? These pictures make me sick to my stomach. i ask myself if these pple who perpetrate these crimes are ok upstairs. I can only pray that God will touch the hearts of fellow zimbabweans so that they may turn from their evil ways. Only God will turn this situation around and we will keep on praying.