Organised violence and synchronised arrests in Zimbabwe
We are receiving reports of MDC activists being arrested in Bulawayo today. Nonsensical charges are being laid against them. The purpose seems to be to do nothing more than harrass and intimidate and try and scare them. We have been told that efforts are being made to get them released.
The news we’re hearing is corroberated by information that Mike has left here in our comments. He says he has received an email tonight from Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR) saying:
“Security alert. The Zimbabwe Police looking for ROHR members. They came to [address; name omitted]’s flat looking for our office and threatened [name omitted] the tenant with detention if she fails to give them our address. She did not know our address. Individuals from various civic orgs and MDC are being picked and arrested. So far more than 100 arrests have been reported”.
It looks like a coordinated phase of Mugabe’s crackdown against human rights and opposition activists.
In addition to the news of the arrests, we have received further information from a trusted source who says that the awful Obert Mpofu is up to his dirty tricks and thuggery and violence in Umguza. This is what our source sent us:
Obert Mpofu, the ‘former’ Minister of International trade and Industry controls all the intimidation and violence in Matabeleland North. He was also indirectly implicated in the violent murder of Martin Olds on Independence Day in 2000.
One of Mpofu’s main henchmen is Richard Moyo, the Zanu PF Chairman for Ward 8, Umguza.
Moyo runs a store and beerhall on Cranmore farm, Umguza. He drives a new white Nissan King Cab with Zanu PF Umgusa District on the door.
Moyo is very dangerous and has been known to murder anyone getting in his way. He has a murder charge pending on him since 2005 when he beat-up and then burned to death a guy called Zenzo, who had spoken to one of his girl friends.
Moyo’s cohort is a so-called warvet called Nicholas Ndlovu. The youth militia who are brought into the area stay with Ndlovhu.
Jili Mtemele who owns a supermarket in the high density areas in Bulawayo (also referred to as Mangena) and his employee, called Sayi, are currently leading and supporting mobs in the Umguza area.
Others employed by Obert Mpofu are villagers from the resettled on Arda Balu Estates.
If those arms and weapons ever reach Zimbabwe, these are the kinds of psychopathic-people who may end up using them.
We ask all violence loving thugs whether they really think its a good idea to behave like this when the country is on the brink of a transition to a new government. It may not be long before they no longer have the protection of a partisan police and corrupted judicary.
Just think about it for a moment.
April 18th, 2008 00:45
We somehow have to reach out to the ordinary police and persuade them to disobey orders and to stand with the people. How do we do that? Anyone got any ideas? Maybe Woza-type flowers to hand to them?
April 18th, 2008 05:46
Wish I could help. Maybe some artwork… Posters or leaflets. Please be careful. If I can do anything let me know.
It’s very hard to get news here, I am in America - the media sucks bad.
I will post to my website of news if you like…
Woza Moya.
Peace,
=RD=
April 18th, 2008 13:27
Perhaps a carefully worded appeal on a dedicated website might help. Where people may post personal ‘pleas’ or persuasive comments. (Refraining from threats, insults or recriminations, but using every ounce of persuasion.)
It is essential to create as many avenues possible for news to get “out” of Z. I think, that everyone who blogs, posts, comments, sends e-mail or sms’s, can help to ensure that a global network of communication is established and that the issues remain current and in the public eye. After the initial rush of information and the interest, stories tend to loose momentum and the public loose interest. Encourage people to visit sites, such as this one and other sites. Ask people to comment, if only to show support and to encourage each other..
On this note, a friend has informed me that Alvarez Galloso of http://www.nowpublic.com/ is posting news, etc regarding Z. Anybody who could support this and / or any other effort, I’m sure it will help. Perhaps people can post links of sites of interest to all of us. Thanks and sorry, I got carried away.
April 18th, 2008 20:03
I received the following email from a friend who presumable got it from the source.
___________________
Dear Family and Friends,
Well I never thought I would have to do this email - do not know if it may be my last from our farm “Chidza”.
At 3.30pm today a lorry load of so called Mugabe brain washed “war-vets” arrived at our gate to take over our land, equipment and pedigree cattle.
This crazy action is occurring in a country where there is very little food being produced !
It is now 6 pm and they have been singing their war songs at our gate for three hours, the atmosphere is violent and more and more of them have arrived.
We managed to get our daughter Alison and her young son “Little John” into town and for now it is just John and myself, plus our dogs remaining in the house on the farm.
They have said that our labour will not work tomorrow . They have demanded that John must kill them a sheep, which John has flatly refused to do, so no doubt they will simply kill one for themselves.
None of our paid labour will even attmpt to come to work tomorrow either!
Graham Richards who lives south of us is also under siege at the same time as us, so this siege of the last remaining whites is an orchestrated plan.
The Goddards and Deidricks are in the same boat. They have already taken over Pa-Nyanda Guest Lodge, and Graham and his wife Callie are now in town.
Alison is at John’s sisters in Masvingo town and her husband Carl is expected back from Bulawayo tonight.
Lorna’s telephone no. is Zw code 39-264323 ; Ali is on 011216643
Our Phone Landline is 039-266080 Cell Phone Nos. 011-215275 ;
023-258810
Please pass this email on to as many folk as you would like to, this illegal action must become “known” thru-out the world .
If you know of anyone in the Media, please ensure that they become aware
/are alerted to this evil tyrant’s actions to keep power at all costs.
We have to let the world know what is happening.
Well done to Zesa. As they load shedded us and I phoned my friend in the Zesa Faults and he phoned Harare and they have switched us back on.
So for now please keep all of us in your prayers and we will send a follow
up tomorrow if we are able.
Our love to you all.
John and Joy from Chidza.
____________________
So with John and Joy’s permission, I have posted it for everyone attention.
Thanks!
April 26th, 2008 21:17
[...] Coordinated state violence against innocent civilians: It looks like a coordinated phase of Mugabe’s crackdown against human rights and opposition activists. In addition to the news of the arrests, we have received further information from a trusted source who says that the awful Obert Mpofu is up to his dirty tricks and thuggery and violence in Umguza. This is what our source sent us: Obert Mpofu, the ‘former’ Minister of International trade and Industry controls all the intimidation and violence in Matabeleland North. He was also indirectly implicated in the violent murder of Martin Olds on Independence Day in 2000. One of Mpofu’s main henchmen is Richard Moyo, the Zanu PF Chairman for Ward 8, Umguza. Moyo runs a store and beerhall on Cranmore farm, Umguza. He drives a new white Nissan King Cab with Zanu PF Umgusa District on the door. Moyo is very dangerous and has been known to murder anyone getting in his way. He has a murder charge pending on him since 2005 when he beat-up and then burned to death a guy called Zenzo, who had spoken to one of his girl friends. [...]
April 28th, 2008 17:39
[...] Coordinated state violence against innocent civilians: It looks like a coordinated phase of Mugabe’s crackdown against human rights and opposition activists. In addition to the news of the arrests, we have received further information from a trusted source who says that the awful Obert Mpofu is up to his dirty tricks and thuggery and violence in Umguza. This is what our source sent us: Obert Mpofu, the ‘former’ Minister of International trade and Industry controls all the intimidation and violence in Matabeleland North. He was also indirectly implicated in the violent murder of Martin Olds on Independence Day in 2000. [...]