MDC activists abducted – again!!
Via MDC-T Press Release – Three MDC activists, Terry Musona, Lloyd Tarumbwa and Fani Tembo who were abducted in Banket by State security agents in October last year, were on Tuesday forcefully taken from their homes by three State security agents. (See Sokwanele earlier post here).
The trio was abducted and taken to the Attorney-General’s (AG) office in Harare and told that they should testify against other MDC activists who are to face trial next week on trumped-charges of banditry or they would face unspecified consequences.
At the AG’s office, the three were ordered to testify as State witnesses when the trial of other MDC activists kicks off on Monday. They were ordered to testify against their colleagues in accordance with the instructions that they were given by the police or risk facing serious unspecified consequences.
The three were released this morning and told to go to their respective homes but to come to court next week.
Musona, Tembo and Tarumbwa were arrested in October last year and spent four months in illegal detention. They were never charged or brought to court and were released from their illegal detention in February 2009 following a High Court order.
Meanwhile, MDC lawyers have prepared an urgent High Court application to stop the State from using Musona, Tarumbwa and Tembo as witnesses.
Tembo is a Councillor for Ward 22, Zvimba South and MDC district organizing secretary, Tarumbwa is a coordinator for the same ward while Musona is the Mashonaland West provincial vice secretary.
The three activists were part of over 40 MDC and civic society activists including two year-old Nigel Mutemagawu who were abducted between October and December last year and were only released from illegal detention in February after spending more than four months.
The others including Zimbabwe Peace Project director, Jestina Mukoko and the MDC Mashonaland West provincial Women’s Assembly chairperson, Concilia Chinanzvavana were later brought to court on trumped up charges of banditry and recruiting MDC youths for terrorism training in neighbouring Botswana.
High Court Trial Dates for Political Abductees
8th June: First “recruiters” trial – State vs Concillia Chinanzvavana, Fidelis Chiramba, Violet Mupfuranhewe and Collen Mutemagau
29th June: “Bombers” trial – State vs Kisimusi Dhlamini, Gandhi Mudzingwa, Chinoto Zulu, Andrison Manyere, Zacharia Nkomo, Regis Mujeyi and Mapfumo Garutsa
20th July: Second “recruiters” trial – State vs Emmanuel Chinanzvavana, Pieta Kaseke, Jestina Mukoko, Audrey Zimbudzana and Brodrick Takawira
June 5th, 2009 06:32
Morgan Tsvangirai’s reaction to the continuing illegal attacks on and eviction of white farmers is that these are ‘isolated incidents’ that have been ‘blown out of proportion’.
By that yardstick, does that make these ongoing abductions of MDC people similarly ‘isolated incidents blown out of proportion’?
Of course not. But while we may forgive the PM for taking so long to bring about democratic reforms (no-one pretends this is an easy or quick task), we cannot forgive his increasing tendency to publicly gloss over lawlessness and ongoing violence by ZANU agents against our people.
The MDC needs to remember that the only thing that will distinguish them from ZANU-PF in the long run will be an absolute commitment to justice and democracy at every turn.
June 9th, 2009 02:48
“From ZWNEWS, 8 June
“A niece of prime minister Tsvangirai is involved in an attempt to grab a
farm in the Chegutu district. Dr. Arikana Chihombori, who lives in the
United States and practices family medicine in Antioch, Tennessee, has been
actively trying to seize De Rus Farm from Mr L J Cremer since late last
year.”
I say again: The ONLY thing that will distinguish the MDC from ZANU-PF in the long run will be an absolute commitment to justice and democracy at every turn.