TAKE ACTION for Roy Bennett
“Whatever these challenges, if we remain unwaveringly dedicated, we will achieve peace, freedom and democracy in our life-time – believe me!” (Roy Bennett – via MDC Press Release, 14 Feb 09). View updates here.
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TAKE ACTION:
The Mutare numbers to call are +263 (0)20 64212 for the main charge office in Mutare
This cell number, we believe, is for the man in charge: +263 (0)91301 1761
CIO: +263 (0)20 66314 and +263 (0)20 61102
CID: +263 (0)20 65645
Please call (or sms the cell) these numbers to let the police holding Roy Bennett know that the world is watching very closely and want Roy Bennett to be released immediately. Tell them you will continue to monitor the situation closely, and that you are conveying your concerns to your local MP and the government in your country.
Ask them to observe the rule of law, and to treat Roy Bennett with dignity and respect.
If the person you are speaking to appears to be listening, keep talking, and ask him/her to carry a message to Roy Bennett to let HIM know you are watching over him from all over the world.
If they pretend they don’t know what you are talking about, or claim it is not a police station, keep talking and make sure you convey your message.
Please be calm and measured and polite. No matter how angry you are by the outrageous actions, it won’t help Roy Bennett if you lose your temper.
Please let us know how you got on via the comments.
February 14th, 2009 11:53
Got through to the cell number. Wanted to know where I got his number, at first denied knowledge of Roy Bennett then suggested we speak to the police station.
Was very civil but line got bad after that and the call dropped.
February 14th, 2009 12:12
the cell appears to work..not tried the others yet.
sent the following sms
“Roy Bennett must be released unharmed NOW. The world is watching. Don’t ruin your future on behalf of ZPF elite. God bless you.”
i sent this through skype as it hides my mobile. Also use skype for phoning. The line is much better and cheaper!
come on sok regulars – true-grit, nationailst, all the anonymouses!,exbulawayo, faraway, ants, malcolm (use your wit) etc etc etc…get dialling…!
February 14th, 2009 12:13
Well, there’s a nice surprise.
I spoke to an officer at the CID and he could not have been more friendly and (apparently) open. I really did feel as though I was having a conversation with a fellow Zimbabwean, something I was certainly not expecting.
I shared my concern and mentioned that many here in South Africa are worried about Mr Bennett and about what this means for the inclusive Government; and that I have communicated my concern to our MP, Adv Johnny de Lange asking him to follow up concerning our Government’s response.
The officer said that Mr Bennett was cheerful.He did not answer my questions about food but claimed that Mr Bennett has been afforded access to his legal team and that he expects this matter to be resolved soon. He asserted that Mr Bennett will remain in their care at Mutare Charge Office and will not be taken elsewhere and that they will not harm him.
He also told me that it is calm around the outside of the station as well.
The officer even took the trouble to ask about the weather in Cape Town etc. I thanked him for his time, said I was very relieved to hear what he has to say, and also that it is a relief to me that Mr Bennett has been taken to Mutare as it seems that the officers there know what they should be doing.
I was impressed at the conciliatory tone and the effort made to speak to a stranger who calls from abroad and to be friendly, and I hope that this lack of defensiveness reflects at least some determination by officers on the scene not to be used in someone else’s political game.
February 14th, 2009 13:00
Have sms’d to release Roy. He is my cousin. God Bless all those trying to change Zim.
February 14th, 2009 13:04
I just called through to the cell number given for the head of the Mutare Station. I first sent an sms saying: “The world is watching your treatment of Roy Bennett. do not think you can act without serious consequences. RELEASE ROY BENNETT.
I then spoke to the gentleman who was at pains to point out lthat he had nothing to do with the Bennett case. He said it was Harare Police who brought Bennett there and he had nothing to do with him. He was obviously exasperated at the hundreds of sms’s and phone calls he had been receiving so obviously this method works. He was unable to give me the number of the officer in charge of Roy and instead tried to get me to contact Harare headquarters. IF ANYONE KNOWS THE NUMBER FOR THE OFFICER IN CHARGE THEN MASS SMS’S ARE QUITE INTIMIDATING.
February 14th, 2009 15:26
I managed to get through to the Mutare Police Station 3 times. The first time I was put on hold and then cut off. The second time I was put through to someone else who became aggressive and asked where I got the number. I informed him that the number was all over the internet because a mass, international campaign had been launched on behalf of Roy. He put the phone down in my ear. The third time I was put through to a captain who told me to phone back in 3 minutes time then he would be able to give me the correct number to phone.
So, here goes…..phone call No. 4…..
The next step is to contact every single person I know overseas and ask them to….Make the Call. I think the more international response there is, the better.
February 14th, 2009 16:43
@Sally D –
They’ll tell you what you want to know and not what the truth is, every time!
February 14th, 2009 18:36
I called the charge office from Los Angeles, California, three times at 6:00pm Zimbabwe time with no answer. Tried the cell number but all circuits were busy. Both California senators, Barbara Boxer and Dianne Feinstein, will be emailed re. Roy Bennett.
February 14th, 2009 18:55
I’m trying to call from Canada but the cell number rang and rang and then was disconnected. The main charge office number in Mutare was busy. I’m hoping these are good signs that they are getting many calls. I will keep trying. For anyone else trying to call from the U.S. or Canada, you have to first dial 011 and then the numbers above. Also, be prepared to hold on if you hear nothing for a couple of minutes. It takes a while for the call to go through.
February 15th, 2009 13:38
I got through to a man in the main charge office and when I said that I wanted to talk about Roy Bennet, he put the phone down.
Then I called the +263 (0)91301 1761 number. The man who answered was polite and listened to what I had to say. He explained that he is not in charge, he is a policeman but he has not seen Roy today and someone else is in charge. He said he has phone calls from all over the world but he is not happy that his number is on the internet and is looking for the person who placed it there. Nevertheless he listened as I explained that everything that happens in Zim is monitored and recorded on the internet and that thousands of people are longing for the improved health, freedom, safety and well being of friends and family in Zimbabwe.
February 15th, 2009 14:47
I like the idea of mass sms campaigns.
Could we perhaps get a list of numbers associated with the military and the police, in Harare HQ as well as in Mutare, and target them one by one? If nothing else, it makes that cell phone difficult to use for any other purpose such as organising further abductions…
February 15th, 2009 14:49
@Anonymous –
Very true. However, I was more interested in the process, than in the content which is always going to be vague or mendacious. It suggested that there might be police who are sympathetic to Roy Bennett and his supporters.
Wouldn’t it be nice if someone like that just helped him escape…into the waiting arms of his supporters outside!
February 15th, 2009 14:51
@Jim –
have sms’d various messages to the cell number via skype. We need more cell numbers of people in charge, so as to target a number of them with sms at once.
February 15th, 2009 14:57
@Janet – @madresicilia – Can anyone tell me precisely what you dial from UK? Is it 00263020..(etc.) or 0026320..(etc.)? I have tried the first one twice this morning, got a garbled (no-English) reply and then the phone went down.
February 15th, 2009 16:40
@Sally D –
I think mass sms is a good idea. Target all the Mugabe cronies, annoy the hell out of them. We need more cell numbers of Zanu PF people in command.
February 15th, 2009 17:38
I called this number this morning: +263913011761 and got someone. He was a little flustered because I am sure lots of people are calling, but he told me very politely that “I am not the one.” and then proceeded to tell me that Roy was being held at another police station. I simply repeated that we were watching from all over the world and we were expecting them to follow the rule of law., To call this number from the USA it would be 011263913011761 not sure what it would be from the UK. Let’s keep up the pressure.
February 15th, 2009 18:02
Dear Sokwanele,
I just wanted to drop you a short line to thank you for this wonderful work to bring pressure on those responsible for the arrest of Roy Bennett. It is so important for the regime to know that the whole world is watching. God bless you all.
Regards,
Senator David Coltart
Zimbabwe
February 15th, 2009 19:04
Phoning from South Africa, I got through to the Mutare charge office by dialling 00 263 2064212. The 00 needs to be replaced by the number for your particular country, which you should find in a list of international dialling codes in your local telephone directory. I believe the USA dial-out code (for example), is 011. Hope that helps.
Please, please keep phoning, don’t give up! If they manage to move Roy from the Mutare police station, he is going to disappear. I really do believe that the Powers that Be will be reluctant to so something silly if they’re aware that they’re being watched from all over the world.
February 16th, 2009 14:03
Might be a good idea to publish the telephone numbers of the 5 JOC leaders as they seem to be running Zimbabwe now !
Can one reach them ?
February 17th, 2009 15:36
I have been sending regular texts (what a wonderful peaceful idea!) to the cell number asking for Roy Bennett to be released and telling them the world is definately watching!
Will try calling now. I will distribute the numbers indicated on the website and send the info to the newspapers in Dubai to see if they will pick up the story.
Aussie in Dubai
February 18th, 2009 01:25
Thank you for your initiative. Your campaign has inspired this new group on FACEBOOK aimed at addressing all our countries issues using the same targeted campaign method – phone/sms
Please look for:
“Zimbabwe Diaspora Campaign For Democracy”
Lets gather these numbers, publish the listings and launch scheduled targeted campaigns addressing our issues for as long as it takes to bring about change!
February 18th, 2009 12:19
Take Action:
From Zimsituation:
Roy Bennett’s Court Appearance
The reason why Roy Bennett’s failed to appear in Court was the delayed
arrival of the prosecutor. The Prosecutor is NOT from Harare but from
Bindura. His name is Emmanuel Muchenga and is the Mashonaland Central
Regional Court Prosecutor who was awarded the Best Prosecutor for 2008. He
is a serious Bindura ZANU (P.F) activist who is well known for prosecuting
several MDC activists in the province – Mashonaland Central. His recent case
(Bindura Mayor denied Bail over Perence Shiri’s shooting) was when invoked
the powers to deny an innocent Major over allegation of trying to
assassinate the Airforce Commander. Several innocent MDC supporters are
languishing in prisons and several ZANU (P.F) perpetrators of violence were
released scotch-free.
Emmanuel Muchenga is a Member of the Methodist Church In Zimbabwe and an MCU
(Men Christian Union), Preacher, Bindura Church steward (Gosa) and,
Inter-denominational Chairperson (Mubatanidzwa). Despite all these posts, he
is evil and prescribes to ZANU (P.F) formula of killing, kidnapping and
looting. He is known for accepting bribes and is building a Mansion in
Chiwaridzo, Bindura despite the meager salary.
He was awarded handsomely for being their protégé by: -
Getting a low-density house whilst his boss Mr Manhiri – Area Public
Prosecutor is staying in the high density
He is now driving a Govt Cream Mistibushu whilst his boss walks to work.
He was awarded a Farm near Avonda
He draws fuel from CMED, Prison tanks and ZANU (P.F) tanks
His wife was appointed Head of Catering at Bindura University in preparation
of the hosting of the ZANU (P.F) congress
He has an assignment to prosecute MDC activists in Gweru next week or so
He should be added on the list of people on Sanctions and all Activists can
call him on 0912 758195 or 071 6195 and his wife’s number is 011 531 626
Regards
The Bindura Community At Large
February 18th, 2009 13:07
@BM – bm THANKS, i’ve sent a copy of your comments to my address list, sms’d the prosecutor a couple of times and requested everyone on my list to sms him… it must be quite unsettling to get hundreds of sms’s saying you are being watched.
regards
Ryan
February 18th, 2009 13:47
@BM – Talk about uncovering the bastards! Nice work. They may run, but they can’t hide.
October 14th, 2009 19:20
From London I rang the cell no using 00first: 00263913011761 The person answered ‘Hello’ I started to speak but was interrupted with ‘Hello, Hello’ a few times so I just carried on speaking. He said ‘Give me a chance to respond’ He then told me it was a private number but yes they did arrest Roy Bennet this afternoon but he is not here. He didn’t know the Police Station number. I asked if he could please convey my message that the world is watching and that I shall be contacting my MP, Malcolm Rifking and MEP Charles Tannok. as well as to please treat Roy Bennet with dignity and respect ‘OK’ he said I said ‘Thank you, goodbye’ and the phone went dead.
In the UK to find your Local MP, this site is useful: http://www.writetothem.com/about-contact
October 14th, 2009 20:47
Correction: it’s Malcom Rifkind, the Kensington and Chelsea MP. I’ve already called on them for no more intergovernmental aid to all 14 SADC countries and food for starving Zimbabweans instead.
Channel Four has a clip of Roy Bennet on the news. I hope this takes off.