Her name is Memory
May 16th, 2008
This is Memory. Her story was told in an article published yesterday by the Daily Mail. It’s title: How one woman’s extraordinary bravery is a haunting rebuke to a world that is ignoring Mugabe’s genocide.
Her experience of torture at the hands of Zanu PF thugs is beyond ordinary imagination. Her lovely face, with its almost serene expression, also protects the reader from the horror of her experiences. And the editorial rigours of the mainstream media buffers us from the full awful truth: the images of Memory’s injuries have been considered too graphic – grotesque – by most to publish.
When you click the read more link on this post, you will see the reality of what happened to Memory.
Writing for the Daily Mail, Peter Oborne tells us what happened:
Four men held down her arms and legs, while a fifth gripped her head, placing his hands over her mouth to prevent her screams being heard.
Two others, wielding heavy wooden poles, then took turns to thrash her on the buttocks in a beating that lasted half an hour.
[...]
She told me how on arrival at the school (which she had attended as a child), she had been ordered to sit in the playground with a group of supporters of Zimbabwe’s Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) – the opposition party led by Morgan Tsvangirai.
On the dot of 8am, the beatings started. Groups of eight people at a time were ordered out for treatment at the hands of a band of around 200 members of Robert Mugabe’s militia, each wearing Zanu-PF T-shirts and green, red and yellow bandanas signifying the national flag.
Many of them were high on drink or drugs.
She watched as four of her close friends were beaten and kicked to death. A fifth friend later died, and others remain unaccounted for.
The militiamen chanted songs and spat insults at Morgan Tsvangirai as they did their work.
They told Memory, whose farmer husband was away: “You and your husband are MDC members so we must beat you.’ They said that she belonged ‘to a party of animals”.
Memory told me how she could hear her children screaming “Mamma, Mamma, Mamma!” during her beating. They were held back by female members of Zanu-PF.
Later, Memory was ordered to sit for two hours on her wounds. Mugabe’s thugs told her she would be thrashed again if she moved a muscle.
“We spent the day without eating or water in the hot sun,” she told me. “If we asked for water, they said: ‘Get your water from Tsvangirai’.”
Believe it or not, just by being alive, Memory is one of the lucky ones.
The article, which has a lot more to say, is here : it ends like this:
As I stood up to leave the bedside of Memory, I asked if, despite all she had been through, she would still vote for Morgan Tsvangirai in the presidential run-off.
Her face lit up with a wonderful, radiant, artless smile. “Oh, yes!” she said.
“I would. I will vote with confidence.”
While this amazing spirit of courage and optimism remains, there is still hope this wonderful country could soon rid itself of its appalling despot Robert Mugabe – if only the world would stop averting its eyes and finally take the moral responsibility to help end this tragedy.
Memory’s courage is one of the reasons why these images have to be seen and we have to respond to them. Her courage is extraordinary.
Peter Oborne’s article highlights the way the terrible pain of what she has endured has not impacted on her committment to Zimbabwe’s future. But her courage is deeper than even that: readers should be aware that in telling her story, allowing her face to be pictured, showing the world her terrible injuries, Memory is risking reprisal attacks.
But she did it anyway, so you could see and hear what is happening.
May 16th, 2008 18:38
I understand how difficult it is to look at these pictures because we find them painful to view too. No one in Zimbabwe is more prepared than others around the world to deal with the shock of the images and stories we are confronted with daily. But we have no choice.
We have seen some terrible pictures and heard some awful stories, but the scale of what is happening in Zimbabwan feels like suffocating quick sand: with heavy misery and pain and horror relentlessly rising and the sense of despair and frustration and helplessness and grief it provokes in us all is difficult to convey.
I hope the readers of this blog understand that as shocking as these images are, each and every one of them comes to your eyes because someone else has been immensely couragous and bravely allowed their story to be told. They do it because they want the world to know how bad it is; and by doing it they hope the awareness it brings will save other lives and protect other people in our country.
It is our belief that it is our duty to show you these pictures, to talk about them and what they mean.
There is something about this full-frontal evidence of the evil that humans are capable of that silences the rest of us. Comments which are alive on other posts on our blog dry up on the ones where we show torture like this.
I want to take a big risk here, and ask you to talk about these images, and I say that knowing that there is usually there is no quicker way to silence comments than to actively seek them.
But what do images like these mean to people in the rest of the world? Is Memory taking unnecessary risks showing them to you; does publishing them make people avoid the blog for days because they can’t bear to see them; when you see them, do you feel compelled to act to help.
Hope
May 16th, 2008 19:29
The word thats been haunting me is Barbaric. The feelings I experience is …Awe. I am humbled by this womens faith and commitment.
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The world will listen..Justice will be extracted from the people who did this. I will act !!!
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May 16th, 2008 19:33
Shock… tears …i will ever remember that…
Memory, I’m so sorry. If i could i would take your pain…
Sokwanele, its the right way i think to show it.
May 16th, 2008 20:47
Sokwanele, has this page been forwarded to all the major newspapers around the world?
May 16th, 2008 21:32
I come from an ex-communist country. Such atrocities were a daily part of life for the ones who opposed the terrible regime. We had a group of people owning a radio station in Europe and trying to raise awareness in the world in order to help our country. Needless to say, the communist leaders were always on their track – countless assassins were sent to eliminate them. Luckily, few succeeded.
The solution came from the inside, in the end: the people of my country. You see, we can help: we can sign petitions, write letters, even come and volunteer to help – but I doubt the government will care. Elections were faked in Romania, too, and letters might have been sent, but the leaders had no interest in reading them – I’m sure their conscience of humans is already dead. It all comes down to you, the people.
At some point all the suffering will reach its end point and you will find a way of getting out of this crisis and making the right choices for the future of your country. The world supports you: We are here whenever you need a kind word of encouragement or an angry cry of war – but the power of democracy lies in the strength of the people, and the people in my country and many others have proven that they can be invincible in their rage against injustice. I admire your courage and strength and pray with all my heart that no more such atrocities will be made in Zimbabwe and in the rest of the world.
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May 16th, 2008 22:02
The way to stop this is to do what is just recently beginning to take shape…organizing resistance groups to counter this barbarism.
When confronted by determined people such drunken bullies as these ZANU cowards cringe and back down. They only show bravado when confronting the weak and defenseless.
Check with the U.S. ambassador McGee to find out how effective this is.
Nobody from the outside world is going to help with this. Nobody
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May 16th, 2008 22:05
Oh Memory, you and your children are in thoughts and hearts of so many people around the earth. I am so, so sorry that this was done to you.
May 16th, 2008 22:23
Hello Sokwanele
It is a tribute to Memory and her survival of this brutality and commitment to change when you publish these pictures. Her courage and that of others who have suffered similarly should be seen by all. If this is not compelling, I don’t know what is.
Nana
May 16th, 2008 23:00
Memory,  you are in our prayers. This is extremely disturbing and one wonders what and when all this suffering and these injustices will end. May God have mercy on us.
Is there some sort of fund which is organised to assist the victims of this violence and the families of those who have been murdered?
May 16th, 2008 23:56
I weep.
May 17th, 2008 00:13
we will prevail.
May 17th, 2008 00:17
bad.terrible.kanti siyenzani madoda?
May 17th, 2008 01:13
THABO MBEKI IS A WILING ACCOMPLICE
May 17th, 2008 01:24
Kanti Varume UMugabe ulamasende anganani? This guy thinks that Zimbabweans are fools.I am really appalled by what his thugs did to that girl,People if need be, if this demented old man thinks he can bully everyone, let there be war in Zimbabwe.It will not be difficult for MDC to get guns from everywhere and lauch a blood war in that country until the entire universe begin to intervene.If around 500 000 lives perish for the sake of justice and freedom there are many brave people like memory who are prepared to pay the price.Mugabe must be defeated at all costs, come 27 June.
May 17th, 2008 01:24
Behind this beautiful face, I see a thousand others. Words may defy me… but my actions will be inspired.
Memory – your brave light shines and shows the way forward.
May 17th, 2008 03:13
Oh! God, how can ZANU reduce itself so low? We pray for the good lady. Mwari ndewedu tese. Lets go in our numbers musiwa 27/June. ZANU will be history from 28/June onwards.
Sokwanele!
May 17th, 2008 04:15
From a person in a free country, one cannot begin to comprehend how anyone can do this to their own people. Can somebody remind the thugs that the money they are promised per beating will be worthless soon. These ZANU ‘war veterans’ must be drug/alcohol induced during this. Someone stop their drug supplies!ÂÂ
Some websites have listed the names of the hundreds of perpatrators behind all the attacks, we must find their mugshots and publish these names and pictures (and their crimes) around the world.  Have flyers distributed around the country with the names and pictures.
May 17th, 2008 04:16
Memory..i wish i could take your pain away. Oh how brave you are for standing up to that maggot infested regime which has destroyed our beloved country, inflicting violence on its citizens that only sick, evil minds can dream of.ÂÂ
You are the face of change for what you have gone through and we thank-you for your bravery and courage. You and your family are in our prayers. God have mercy on these Zimbabwean souls.
May 17th, 2008 07:59
Is this this Mugabe’s idea of defending his “revolution”? What crime could this helpless woman have committed to merit such callousness? I say this horror can only be the work of fiends, fiends, fiends from the depths of hell!!!
Its no longer enough for us to express our revulsion at such images. Its no longer enough just to circulate them. It’s about time something more pointed is done to stop such cruelty. Forfeit the too often pithy statements we make here, perish the thought that somehow Mugabe can be left to go on in this way.
Isn’t Charles Taylor on trial at the Hague for having committed similar acts of madness? What are we waiting for then? One more day of inaction, one more day of vacuous rhetoric makes us all complicit in one more atrocity of this kind tomorrow.
Lets us now stand up ( if we have the feet to do so) and say enough is enough as your cause is aptly named and DO SOMETHING!
May 17th, 2008 09:51
victims of greediness and cruelty. time will tell.
May 17th, 2008 10:25
May God Bless Memory!!
May Sokwanele please try and acquire some banking details for Memory so that well wishers can offer some financial aid. At this poit in time she probably needs medical aid but in Zimbabwe she can only get it from a private hospital which might require a lot of money. Exposing her contact details might put her at risk so just post her account detail or try open a fund for her.
May 17th, 2008 10:40
I would like to find out how I assist Memory regarding her treatment.
May 17th, 2008 10:47
I didn’t comment when I saw the pictures of Memory… I felt sick, shattered that such vile things are done, and done to such good, gentle people. Words seem feeble to express my feelings at this brutality. And then I was overwhelmed at Memory’s courage and her gentle brave response. I pray that her pain will soon go and know that she will recover. I thank her for her courage to show her terrible wounds and her beautiful face to the world. Memory is one of Zimbabwe’s heroines. We will always remember.
All Zimbabweans must now bravely vote again to put an end to this horror.
And Sokwanele, thank you for your courage in showing us these pictures. Your action is honourable and absolutely right. We must stop this terrible regime and begin to build our new Zimbabwe.
I am sending these images to Mbeki… just in case he is still not sure whether there is a crisis!
Please can you post details of an organisation that is helping the victims of violence, with information of how to donate or help in other ways, so that everyone who can will assist. Amani Trust is no longer there? Zimbabwe Doctors for Human Rights?
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May 17th, 2008 11:28
Memory, words become meaningless…i get inspired by your courage and of those who have been through similar experiences. today i dedicate a prayer to you, your family and the unknown others.
I am sooooo sorry.
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May 17th, 2008 12:42
@ Sokwanele
I have to laugh ..this is truely sick and cynical..attempt at rabble rousing…Hmmm is this woman a symbol like those posters of dying Ethiopians during the famine, or the images the Animal Rights lobby show of vivisection…???
Get over yourselves… the very fact that you pretend to want comments then you censor views that oppose your own places you in the same catagory of the people that beat that woman…She was beaten so she followed a ‘stepford wives’ party line…How are you any different??? Do you really think no one does any thinking beyond your own?
As stated go to Zimbabwe if you care so much.
And disarm the soldiers and militias.
When does the rank cynicism of your paymasters end and your own human conscience begin??? Are Zimbabweans to be represented as if we are…an endangered species now or some next set of exploited oppressed powerless people trapped in capitalisms meat grinder worthy of liberalisms tears and sighs and yet more tears…Has Bob Geldorf been phoned to throw another concert??? How dare you represent the issue in a way that closes peoples minds to the whole picture. You pretend Zimbabweans are such powerless, helpless people, you state the a peaceful intention then present the vileness of the regime as if ALL Zanu PF members agree with the brutality …
When do you begin showing how Zimbabweans are actually taking charge or supporting each other or does that not suit the neo-liberal agenda?
Please youve been on this for so long…talk to your handlers and tell them to change the campaign…If they are ready to sacrifice Americans in Iraq then they can stop the peaceful pretence and let Zimbabweans defend themselves…Or are we waiting for the next set of images??? As you already know there are many out there to choose from.ÂÂ
May 17th, 2008 14:15
Anon
Sokwanele is a non violent civic action group; we promote non violent civic action methods to achieve democracy and freedom. This statement of our beliefs and principles is published on our website.
These values and principles are not exclusive our group. They are shared by the majority of Zimbabwe’s civil society and by Zimbabweans themselves, and it is also the political stance of the Movement for Democractic Change.
The vast majority of Zimbabweans endorse non-violent solutions to Zimbabwe’s problems.
We clearly state that we will not publicise views which contravene our principles: this policy is made before you leave a comment, and we say again, when the comment is held in the queue, that comments which contravene our principles will not be published.
May I please ask you to find an alternative forum where you can discuss what you want to discuss with other people who share YOUR views.
Finally, any further comments which step around the topic of violence and/or war as a solution, using every word possible except the direct terms in an effort to avoid moderation, will from now on be deleted outright
May 17th, 2008 14:34
i don’t know if you guys have seen this article. it’s in portuguese, from the moz press, yesterday. those arms from that ship? arrived.
delivered and unloaded at pointe-noire in the republic of congo. [that's congo-brazzaville, not the DRC]
i have a feeling this is directly related to mr. tsvangirai’s sudden about-face about returning to zimbabwe.
it says that not only did mbeki aid and abet this, but had the ship refueled as it passed the cape. unreal. just bloody unreal.
any independent sourcing of this? i’ve phoned the news outlets here in south africa, and they are aware of this as well.
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May 17th, 2008 17:10
Words mean nothing compared to pictures like these. No matter what Anon says, the right way forward is to have pictures like these – with proof of the situation – published as many places as possible. Or even better: More evidence in the form of videos to be aired at the influential global tv stations. Many mobile phones can record video in a decent quality, and this tool of documenting should be used as much as possible.
In Egypt the outcry was enormous when a video of the police torturing a young woman was published on YouTube (see for example http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VhQRFz65M6s ). The video was showed on many tv stations, the outside pressure rose, and soon the dictatorial regime in Egypt had to take action.
When I see pictures like these of Memory, I am deeply shocked – how can anybody do this to other human being? The next thought that hits me is: Do something!
What can we non-Zims do to help? Right now many countries, ngos and individuals donate millions of euros/dollars to Burma, where the forces of nature has killed thousands of people. In Zim it is the forces of evil humans that kill and suppress people. Surely the least the outside world could do was to make sure that brave people like Memory are garanteed.
Where can we send the money?
May 17th, 2008 17:28
Memory I am so sorry. You are a really brave person and an inspiration to all. Shocking yes these images are but it would be more shocking to silents the few voices that still manage to show this evil for what it is.
Mwari akuchengete, akukomborere.ÂÂ
May 17th, 2008 19:33
Whatever those cowardly bastards do, The cowardly beatings with barbed wire, yes, even on elderly womenfolk, their hitting innocent villagers with heavy stones to the head, with rifle butts until they are dead meat. In short, their depraved inhuman atrocities. No matter what they do, or think they can achieve, at the end of the day they cannot influence anything or anybody. Why? BECAUSE THEY CAN NEVER IMPROVE THE IMAGE OF MUGABE. Not now, or ever again. When your image is zero, zilch, nix, you are nothing ever again. The police know it in their hearts, and I am sure will not be lured back to vote by order.
So, if you are still alive, and able to walk to the polling station, and you have a choice between someone who has nothing to offer you except death and misery, or a person who offers you hope of life and possibly a dream or two, what do you do? That is people power – a knock-out blow for freedom and justice, a knock-out blow for common sense and decency, a knock-out blow for freedom.
A KNOCK-OUT BLOW!
May 17th, 2008 20:49
Once again, I state, like a stuck record – this is the action of COWARDLY TERRORISTS. Nothing more, nothing less. This is not the actions of brave righteous men fighting for a just cause. Only cowards need 5 or 6 strong men in a gang to beat a single woman in this fashion.
Maybe the only consolation is that, irrespective of which God there may be out there, no God would surely condone this behaviour and those COWARDS wil answer for this in ways too horrible to contemplate.
To those ZANUPF cowards I say – make the most of this life, ‘cos you are going to rot in hell for a very very long time.
Maybe you and Mugabe will relish eating each other’s excrement in the afterlife.
May 17th, 2008 22:55
To Anon:
I understand your promotion of non-violent civic action but I have a question.
Is self defense an acceptable form of behavior within your non-violent civic action principles?
According to Luke 22:36, Jesus, knowing he would soon be taken from his disciples, said “But now if you have a purse, take it, and also a bag; and if you don’t have a sword, sell your cloak and buy one.
Do you think He was telling them to get swords for slicing bologna?…BALONEY!
1) If a human being is to have the RIGHT to be alive he or she must have…
2) The Right to defend that life (and those of others). And if a person is to have the right to defend themselves he or she must have…
3) The RIGHT to the means to defend ones self.
Without 2 and 3 the first is fallacy…doesn’t exist.
May 17th, 2008 23:34
@ Sokwanele
Out of respect for that poor woman and others I will state this thread is about her…Not mendacity …
I made a comment…about intervention that had NO inference to any act of violence whatsoever…I challenged the level of cynicism of using that poor woman as a next photo opportunity along with others…
I challenged the commitment that asks for comments then censors statements because of nothing more that pique.
I challenged the idea of watching and pointing fingers without giving a full account of the issue..and stated that if you feel that bad ..go and intervene rather than publish death images until kingdom come.
I stated the level of hypocrisy I saw when the post was censored… please dont pretend anyone was calling for war as an excuse not to address the actual issues that were clearly challenged…W-A-R is a three letter word and i can spell it. If that was what I meant to say.
Unlike some I research this issue rather than absorb it at a level of a next cheap emotional stunt to drum up support, as peaceful as you may be…did you think that showing that image could lead to violent reprisals against ZANU PF supporters??? Obviously not…its a form of manipulation…and I have no fear to call a foul play when I see one.
May 18th, 2008 00:41
tell me where does one get such courage to do so much harm to another human being..A LADY FOR THAT MATTER.
Whoever did this I wonder how u manage to sleep at night,dont u have a consience dont u reason,where u born of man or u jus one of those satanists I pray that u ROT IN HELL,I pray that God pays u for this…m begining to wonder kana kune nganga for ril so u tel me all those who support democracy are christians right,If they are christians what happened to all the faith.cant you put this to an end cant you pray that God sees all these souls that have inflicted so much pain on this lady…Pindirai kani Mwari..chiitai minana vanhu venyu vazive muripo chibataiwo ruoko rwemuvengi mazwi edu agowana zvekupupura.Amen
May 18th, 2008 00:57
Anon … “Unlike some I research this issue”. For real?! Excuse my badly spoken French, but how head up your bum can you get? If you are so sure you have the answers to the crisis then lift your body out of your comfortable armchair and go do your bit in Zimbabwe for the people you seem to think you have a heightend sensitivity for ………. Unlike the rest of the people who left comments on this forum …… We, the idiots incapable of seeing the real depths of the issue and needing labouriously explained to us {{{{yaaaawn}}}}. Off you go clever-clogs. go do your “intervening” and stop boring the pants off the rest of us.
May 18th, 2008 03:07
F.O.
Play the ball not the man…from you see points argue with them…dont try the sly bully tactics common to liberals when they meet dissent..in a non violent arena its called debate….its not a school play ground..so dont lower anyones self.
Issues OF CONCERN were raised …whether you are bored by the facts is wholly irrelevant…if you need time to think deeper about issues feel free…hold your lil piece and THEN respond when you can give sensible responses… but as they say…if you feel that the light of truth hurts..it probably means your not used to it.
May 18th, 2008 11:20
Anon, it seems you are not used to the light of truth. Why then would you deny the truth in the expereinces of Memory and others who have suffered unspeakably like her.
You seem concerned then like F.O says get off your arm chair and inquire – you seem horrified, tell your comrades this is not on, tell them as you put it that this is something that should be fought in an arena of free debate. I would be interested to see how you get on, who knows perhaps you can succeeed where Mbeki failed.
Nana
May 18th, 2008 11:49
This is what Tongogara, Magena, Siludika, Chitepo died for. They died for Robert Mugabe to inflict such pain on the defenceless.
God help Zimbabwe.
May 18th, 2008 13:14
@True Git and @F.O. guys watch your backs.
@Nana – you said “tell your comrades” which suggests to me you have got his number.
If it walks like ZANU-PF, talks like ZANU-PF, and smells like ZANU-PF, then it most likely IS ZANU-PF.
My ears pricked up a couple of days ago when he used the word ‘handlers’ in one of his comments – who else do you know who uses personal offensive words like ‘handlers’ when talking about anyone who opposes him……….?
His moral outrage at these pictures is because Sokwanele published them. He could have said they should have been withheld because they are too graphic, because children might come across this forum and see them, because they are an invasion of her privacy as a woman (not unreasonable, no?).
This guy instead chose to attack Sokwanele’s motives. His issue is with Sokwanele and with the opposition and with the truth being exposed in a way the world cannot ignore.
Who else has issues with the opposition, free press, human rights activists…………………….?
Now he’s trying to suggest the origins of the power struggle in Zimbabwe came from outside the country.
Sound familiar……………………………?
Give him a bit more floor space and you’ll soon hear words like ‘imperialist’ and ‘colonisers’ coming out of his mouth.
It is disingenuous of him to try and say ‘intervention’ does not mean ‘war’ – as you correctly point out @True Grit.
His argument is contradictory. He appears to be trying to steer debate towards discussion of “intervention” but also trying to slam the opposition movement. I was very confused about this until this morning.
Now…………. why would he WANT a discussion of “intervention” in Zimbabwe to take place amongst the comments of an international forum on a website that is hosted under a Zimbabwean civil society banner…….?
Think about it.
This guy has an agenda. He wants to disrupt and interfere with the message in this forum.
Why…….?
The detail of what Zimbabweans experience under the Mugabe regime is inconvenient to his central argument so he brushes it aside.
Note the lack of comment about the evilness (I have no other words for it) of those who tortured Memory.
Why………?
You see that he ignores the fact the economy was in a downturn a very long time ago.
Why………..?
He ignores the fact that a downturn in the economy is a legitimate reason to vote a government out.
Why………..?
I left Zimbabwe nearly ten years ago because my business had no chance of success under the economic conditions at the time and I had teenagers to educate. That was before the s*ht hit the fan, after the warvets got payouts (because they were also experiencing the economic pinch and giving Mugabe a very hard time about it – FACT), and before the land invasions began (which was after Mugabe lost the referendum).
ZANU-PF has cocked up the country and that is why no one supports them.
Anyone here live in the UK? Anyone here noticing how the talk is that Gordon Brown might be on his way out because inflation is about 3.5%?
Now how do you think the British people would react if inflation was over 3,000%?
There is a power struggle in Zimbabwe. Yes. This is not a new revelation to us.
The struggle Zimbabweans have now is because ZANU-PF will not relinquish control through the ballot box (ergo, this results in the power struggle). This is not rocket-science.
No one would be surprised to learn the opposition is being funded from somewhere. @anon – do you think you are telling us something we cannot work out for ourselves?
Do you think we assume that Robert Mugabe is actually giving the opposition their share of the tax-payer’s money to put towards freely and fairly campaigning? Do you think we believe that poverty-stricken Zimbabweans are able to fund politics when they cannot buy food?
@F.O. has a point. The level of @anon’s debate is quite patronising.
The fact is that it is usually always the nature of struggles against totalitarianism that those struggling to secure freedom have to be funded from somewhere. Mugabe was funded by the Chinese (he still is). Nkomo was funded by the Russians. Who funded the ANC? It certainly wasn’t the South African government under the National Party!!!!! etc etc etc
I would hand over my money with no hesitation. There is not much that I feel I can do but if I could do that to stop the tyranny in Zimbabwe then I would. @anon would probably then point to that as further evidence of ‘outside sponsers’.
What angers me about this smoke and mirrors argument is that the people who scream ‘imperialism’ in relation to outside support (funding, political etc) are not consistent in their criticisms and they ignore the human rights abuses. The latter is unforgievable in my book. The Chinese and the Russians went a LOT further than merely giving money and actually gave liberation struggles weapons and trained them to achieve help them achieve their freedom.
Who taught the Fifth Brigade their methods of re-education and torture during the Gukuruhundi? The North Koreans, that’s who!
Are we expected to believe that the Russians and the Chinese and the North Koreans had some kind of altruistic objective in Mugabe coming to power? Maybe @anon thinks those with left-credentials have purer hearts than those with have other political affiliations?
There are very few people in the world now who genuinely believe that Mugabe is a ‘good-oke’.
The handful of supporters he still has are zealot-like in pursuit of hammering home their ideological views even when confronted with overwhelming evidence that Mugabe and his government are common-garden variety dictators who would kick a person to death before they allowed them to vote freely.
My guess is that those people who do still argue on Mugabe’s behalf have a vested interest in doing so.
So what is it………?
Are they on the gravy train….?
Do they have their own personal power related objectives in maintaining the myth of a massive ideological struggle (i.e. Thabo Mbeki)..?
Do they have a left-wing reputations to uphold that is their bread and butter (e.g. academics/ journalists/politicians)……..?
Are they are students who love the romance of extreme views………? I am sure there are more reasons out there to explain the lack of rationality.
The other explanation is that they are evil and think killing people is acceptable to hang onto power and I find that difficult to accept for ordinary people.
What sickens me today enough to make me respond, is that this guy, @anon, has hijacked this thread and deflected attention away from what Zanu PF does to its people.
Please, guys, lets not give them that power.
Sokwanele, you should be encouraged by his presence because it shows me that this forum is obviously having an impact. If it has attracted the type that want to stop you, then just keep doing what you’re doing because it must be working. I assure you that I for one am right behind you.
I know I have written a lot and that I have also deflected away from the post, but I did so because I can see what this guy is trying to do and want others to be aware too. (I think that by the lack of responses to him that most people have got his number already).
May 18th, 2008 13:32
@ Nana
Why are people like Memory suffering? Who was so sensible to say people should VOTE to achieve CHANGE within a murderous dictatorship? (its a dictatorship voting doesnt bring change in dictatorships)
In 2002, 2005 the exact same events took place…why? because there is a power struggle going on in Zimbabwe.
Who is involved and what the real end game is is something everyone should look into and be concerned about.
If the aim is to STOP VIOLENCE why promote the same techniques used in PSY-OPS operations to vilify one side and favour the other? If you claim to really want peaceful change you mediate neutrally and peacefully between two warring factions. You dont promote a partisan attitude that seeks to show favouritism no matter how you feel about who is at fault.ie Mbeki. Are Zanu just going to disappear into thin air with all those chinese weapons?
As for being in my armchair… how can I be accused of that by F.O., then be accused of wanting to subject ZANU PF soldiers and militia and junta to violence and promoting war against the regime in the next breath by Sokwanele admin???
May 18th, 2008 13:41
Economic Exile
You make some very good points. I will retreat to my troll-hole for a while to think about them.
Vote MDC in the run-off!
May 18th, 2008 14:00
@ Economic Exile
I rose from my comfy armchair having responded to Nana then I saw your lenthy monolouge…Truely you are a individual with much pent up feeling. My response wont be as lengthy as your own.
1) As stated I cant be ZANU while being accused of seeking to oppose ZANU in a manner that is referred to as ‘war mongering’.
2) In WW1 the GERMANS were shown in cartoon pictures bayonetting babies. Its where the term HUNS came from…You cant claim to seek peace while at the same time placing your opponent in the image of mindless, evil, blood thirsty ‘barbarians’.
In an SWRADIO AFRICA article ‘Defence Units set up by MDC’ http://www.swradioafrica.com/news160508/mdcforms160508.htm
It states…”‘We have decided to come together as people of Manicaland, to unite and identify outside forces who come to cause trouble here. This project has the support of local Zanu-PF supporters who are also sick and tired of violence against innocent civilians,’ Chimhini said.
Chimhini explained the defence units will not hit back against any perpetrators of violence. ‘Elections come and go, but if you kill a person it sticks on you for good. Once we hear there is a group out there to cause trouble we will group in very big numbers and this will act as a deterrent to the trouble makers,’ Chimhini added.
If local Zanu PF supporters are siding with MDC against the violence then why present a stroy contrary to this fact? You even state THE VIOLENCE is what Zanu PF does…” I guess the guys in Manicaland contradict you.
The images of tortured Iraqis inreased the violence in Iraq, because the context of those assaults was manipulated. If you react emotionally to the images horror you often miss that bigger picture.
May 18th, 2008 14:09
The comments have indeed gone off topic. Please reign it in and bring it back to the ongoing state-orchestrated violence in Zimbabwe as exemplified by what happened to Memory and others like her. We do ask that people stay on topic.
Please guys: our forum has an activist objective; it is not a platform for free-for-all off-topic debate. There are other forums where this type of debate freely takes place and I suggest you google for them and take it there.
@anon – With reference to your comments about ‘censorship’: please visit this post yesterday where you will see several people making comments about problems they have had with posting recently.
To avoid future possibilities of censorship, please provide a private email address that we will publish in this forum so that those who wish to communicate with you can do so without interference or involvement from us. Please note in advance that we will not publish links to website that contravene our principles or work against our primary objective which is to see the return of human rights in Zimbabwe, democracy, and the return to law and justice through non-violent means.
May 18th, 2008 14:28
Zanu PF are responsible for the violence. We are currently working with a spreadsheet of over 400 incidents of reported cases of violence, each having the level of detail suitable for future prosecution.
In over 400 reported cases only one was a violent attack on a civilian by an identified MDC supporter. We are working towards presenting this information and we will identify all cases – be they MDC or Zanu PF – of violence against innocent civilians.
400 cases is the very tip of the iceberg. I assure you, there WILL be justice in Zimbabwe one day.
Sokwanele did not use the words “mindless, evil, blood thirsty ‘barbarians’”, but if that’s what the image conveys to you and others then so be it.
Our job is not to manage Zanu PF’s Public Relations image, it is to try and show the world the reality of what is happening in Zimbabwe.
People like Memory put themselves at great risk in support of that objective.
Hope
May 18th, 2008 15:23
Economic Exile, this site is one of the places where I feel I am contributing meaningfully even in a small way toward change in Zimbabwe. I am not at all ignorant of how Zimbabwe came to this appalling situation.
I am deeply concerned about the violence and its impact on ordinary civilians in the context where the economy has collapsed. I am grateful to the men and women of Sokwanele and their contributors like Memory who are willing to keep us informed even at great personal risk.
Constructive dialogue – is what I was hoping to have a discussion about. I made an assumption from Anons previous comments read together. I am not ignorant about the reasons he/she may have made such comments. But from those comments, I extracted something I thought we could work with, to ensure that what happened to memory and others like her does not happen again to anyone else for that matter.
It was relevant to me that Anon seemed to express concern. As you will see from my comment this is something that I questioned and hoped to receive confirmation from Anon. If this was the case, then mutual concern is a potential starting point for constructive dialogue. To me concern differs from blatant denial – where you can not even agree on what is going on. In this case from Anons statements there is no denial of the violence.
So I thought what can you do with this acceptance of violence. This brought to my mind the many examples of transitions of power – and these happened at the negotiating table. It happened because inspite of differences people were prepared to sit down and negotiate. This took place in RSA- for instance.
As I have always understood Sokwanele is a non violent movement. Providing space to contributors to explore and test non violent means to resolving this conflict. Most non violent strategies begin with constructive dialogue of one form or another. This is where I hoped the flow of discussion would move to.
Nana
ps for the record I do not know Anons telephone number, but I certainly assumed from Anons earlier comments that he or she supports Zanu.
May 18th, 2008 15:41
@ Sokwanele
You are too kind… as far as the issue…yes let us go back to the topic…
As for the email. …its
r.evolution@hotmail.co.uk
@ Hope
To be honest its like any conflict, eventually all parties negotiate for peace. Being that you are partisan.
Zanu PF has approx 500,000 – 3 million people
affiliated to that party in and outside Zimbabwe, the violence being done against ‘innocent civillians’ is also against former Zanu supporters in areas presumed loyal to Zanu that switched on March 29… Thus far around 50-100,000 are the hardliners responsible for most of the problems…To claim that Zanu PF in full is responsibe is to call ALL of those people guilty even the people like Margaret Dongo, the members of the genuine War Veterans Association and many others who were fighting the tyranny before the present day 10 year old ‘pro-democracy movement’ in Zimbabwe even existed.
May 18th, 2008 17:19
My hart goes out to the wonderful people of Zimbabwe and especially to a brave woman like Memory.
May 18th, 2008 20:05
Memory my heart goes out to you. It is beyond me how another human could do this to another human..My first reactions to this were one of hate and disbelief but one of things we all must learn is not to always react to our initial instincts… these action done to memory are done by those who are afraid and are reacting to their initial instincts but we must endure to grow I hope one day to meet you and many like you who have suffered under such brutality and fill your world with love and hope and bring back trust…we will place our anger in the positive and work toward a solution that will take away such terrible things…control the urges of revenge…and know that what goes around comes around not necessary in the same vein but you will see soon…..
May 18th, 2008 20:58
— anon your argument that the violence cannot be attributed to zpf is fallacious.
mugabe as head of the party regularly threatens the oppositon with violence at public rallies. this means he can be reasonably accused of inciting it. the fact that senior zpf mps do the same, is further incitement. the fact that the armed services and army commanders back up zpf in public statements means we can conclude that there is military support for zpf tactics. the fact that cases of violence rarely make it to court and when they do seldom result in prosecution means we can reasonably claim the state has undermined the judiciary and endorses these actions. this all points to state involvement and coordination at the highest levels.
therefore, the statement that zpf is responsible for the violence is highly accurate and very reasonable.
it is true that at some point all enemies have to talk. but most talks take place after there is a ‘ceasefire’. a person cannot reasonably be expected to ‘dialogue’ when their family is living in a state of terror.
to head towards dialogue and peaceful change and to save lives as well, it is morally right for civic groups to work to expose the violence and condemn it in the strongest terms and put pressure on zpf to comply. that includes identifying acountability where it is due.
—Nana
I think you misunderstand @economic exile . ‘got his number’ is an expression that means ‘I see exactly what’s going on’.
—Sokwanele
may I also advise people who want this kind of debate that they can test the waters in the NewZimbabwe forums which might be more appropriate. Sokwanele, I don’t think you will object to publishing this link (http://newzim.proboards86.com/) ?
May 18th, 2008 22:01
Dear Sokwanele
Thank you for asking people to talk about this and also for pointing out that silence usually accompanies the publication of such horrible images. Why do we keep silent? Because it is too unbearable to think about. All the same, this kind of image and its reality are a part of the Zimbabwean psyche – talk about them or not, they are there in the back of our minds.
Yes, I stay away from the page for days when I see things like this. At the same time I think it is necessary to keep this archive going. But there are things I would like to say about it.
What I HATE about looking at these images is that more often than not they are just of parts of the body. No face is shown and normally no name is given. To compare, watch the Solidarity Trust video and listen to the one man naming his friends who were attacked. The man may cry but his dignity is intact and the act of telling,naming his friends, makes him no longer appear as a mute and helpless object of violence but a living subject. When I saw this video I cried but I felt different, less helpless & impotent, than when I see a lot of the images posted. Likewise it’s so important here that Memory’s name & face are shown. I wish her story was told in 1st person. I understand this entails risk and God, I would never ask anyone to show more than they can or want – but this showing of mute, faceless, fragmented bodies, with no context around them, no space, just huge wounds on a part of the body, the whole is not seen… no voice, no story on Flickr.
I repeat that I understand the need for this archive and deeply respect Sokwanele’s intentions and the bravery of those who allow themselves to be photographed. But I also feel we are all in the middle of a situation where it’s hard to step back and think, is there no way to do this any differently? Please try to publish people’s names where possible and their stories. Perhaps, where no name can be published, even an acknowledgement of that fact? (Could Sokwanele answer me maybe? Thank you)
May 18th, 2008 22:20
Today in church I prayed for dear Memory. I prayed that she may yet find a free and hopeful life, and that her suffering will be healed and that our Lord will give her the time to be truly happy one day.
I also asked God to bless the plans of the MDC as they work towards their fulfilled goal. I am sure that He already sees the fruition of these plans. The second round will give a decisive victory to the Movement. It is the cleanest way to obtain this result and to prevent a weak compromise government. When you have a true support in the country of say 75%, it is impossible to muster any meaningful degree of intimidation and violence that would reverse that lead which would be plausible or credible.
When an authoritarian ruler like Mugabe goes down he doesn’t get up again. He may try, but he can’t restore the vital climate of fear that has been broken. His allies in government are so fractured, and in such disarray, that they no longer regard Mugabe as a strongman, but rather as a millstone round their neck. What has happened is an extraordinary flip from a position where Mugabe could rely on complete compliance for his worst excesses, to one where he has lost the confidence of most of his key leaders who are increasingly embarrassed, exasperated and impatient. There will be many desertions from Zanu-PF in time. When the dispute is clearly no longer seen between Mugabe and the colonial power, but between Mugabe and the world, his powers of invention will have ceased. Mugabe lives in fear. A fear of the people.
May 18th, 2008 22:23
@ F.O.
To argue a case is to read whats said not merely twisting a point raised so it suits the point you want to make…I stated NOT ALL Zanu PF members agree with the violence or are guilty…To claim a minority represents ALL of a group is simplistic. The clique including the JOC etc ruining Zimbabwe can spread fear among ordinary ZPF members just as much as anyone else.
In ZWNEWS there is a story it states ….’Gibson Nyandoro raised his arm and slowly unclenched his fist to make the open-palmed salute …it was a moment so loaded with symbolism that it stilled the crowd. Only days before the presidential election, the gesture by this 53-year-old war veteran and former government supporter reflected a growing hope that a change of regime was really coming. This weekend Nyandoro’s body lies rotting somewhere near the army barracks where he was taken and tortured to death.’
I guess as a former ZPF his death was as you say ‘accurate and reasonable’ A less worthy life than Memory…pity had he not bothered to put Zimbabwe first in those last few days before the election that former long time ZPF man would still be alive. But according to your logic civic society shouldnt count ZPF members as victims just troublemakers.
May 19th, 2008 12:35
Anon do I understand you correctly when I summarise that it is not the reporting of the experiences of Memory and others like her but it is the under reporting of violence being meted out by Zanu against its own non hardline members that upsets you?
Nana
May 19th, 2008 13:32
Hi tc:
From an activist’s position, being able to publish the stories and names would undoubtably do more to galvanise opinion and establish a sense of a bond between the people who are being tortured and those who are hearing the news. We know for example that the counts of those affected by the violence is now in excess of 1,500. The figure is appalling, but the reality behind it doesn’t move people in the way the handful of images do.
Our policy on this site is to err on the side of caution and to prioritise the safety of the injured person. Some of the victims come forward for help and images come to us for information. We only publish what we are confident the victim knows will be used in the media.
This is why, for example, someone like Memory would probably be distressed to know she had taken this risk to tell a terrible story, but her images were considered too ‘grotesque’ for publication by the mainstream media.
The fragmented images are very impersonal, I agree with you, but they reflect the level of fear in the country. Reprisal attacks are very real and there is a lack of confidence in our police force’s ability to protect the people even if they wanted to protect the people.
So victims will consent to being photographed, provided their attackers cannot identify them. Hence the type of images you see.
Memory really is an extraordinarily courageous person for allowing her face to be shown.
I can assure you that civic society is recording the full details and testimony for all cases brought to their attention. In many instances the victims are able to identify their attackers by name and that is recorded too. Everyone involved in this struggle is determined to do as much as they can to ensure that victims will have the right, in a time when justice is returned to Zimbabwe, to hold their perpetrators to account.
May 19th, 2008 17:00
Memory, you are brave, and your bravery shines through your beautiful African eyes – always trusting, loving caring (some) people of Zimbabwe, it used to be most people. I will continue to pray for a speedy recovery, as well as peace for your entire family. There is a God in our lives and even though we may never understand why some people are chosen to suffer over others, He knows…you will be remembered in the New Zimbabwe history pages as heroic.
May 19th, 2008 17:42
Never underestimate the danger of stupid people in large groups.
May 19th, 2008 18:03
First I would say a discussion was called for.regarding peoples reaction..not a controlled discussion.
@ Nana
Your summary is correct… To make the issue MDC versus ZANU PF is incorrect…and dangerous, if you are seeking peaceful change why set the story as a polemic one half of Zimbabwe against another… when the fact is many long time ZPF people risked so much on 29 March voting for change via MDC? As previously stated people have to be honest…Theres no such thing as a non-violent power struggle…theres only a power struggle using different tactics.
Was the image of the torture of this woman used to galvanise a anti Zanu PF responses. If so thats a cynical ploy.
The relatives of Gibson Nyandoro are also hostages even though they must be ZANU PF members. The troublemakers kill Zanu people wishing for change …Much of the present trouble is in former zpf strongholds so why make the issue seem as if only MDC members are the sole victims when ordinary ZPF people are equally trapped.
May 19th, 2008 18:07
Memory, my heart goes out to you. I pray for healing for you and for democracy and peace in your country.
May 19th, 2008 22:16
Firstly let me take time to wish Memory a speedy recovery. What i believe is the problem with African politics is the lack of a sense of Justice. That the world is not fair is not a reason to act unjustly. Until Africans realise this then what is happening now will continue to happen. Let me take this time to appeal to all readers of this blog — unless Jesus Christ comes soon then the onus is upon each and everyone to uphold the virtues of justice,righteousness and, peace. Please take time to seek the proper definition of each of these words in the dictionary coz most people know how to use words yet not know thier real meaning. Lastly i urge all to decide in their hearts to act according to the virtues mentioned above. We cannot ask the West to solve our problems when we will not lift a finger to help.To all africans i say, pliiiiz lets stop being hypocrites!!!
May 19th, 2008 22:48
Anon for what you say you wish to acheive you have the uncanny ability of alienating people. You can state your concerns without marginalising the experiences of people who have suffered at the hands of the regime. For instance, these are not stories these are peoples lives, realities and experiences. You need to begin to recognise this if you are truly serious about engaging meaningfully with others.
Nana
May 20th, 2008 14:28
@ Nana
I bow to your wisdom…If I alienate people I will try in future not to…as the point is to create a solution not more problems.
However. The issue here is choice…some read what I type and seek the offence in it…others see a non-existent challenge and try to play match wits…others see a concerned citizen.
r.evolution@hotmail.co.uk
May 23rd, 2008 08:49
I am so sorry Memory may God heal you
May 25th, 2008 07:16
To Memory and all other Zimbabweans who have been through such pain, torture and even death just for a simple word called democracy. Thank-you for your courage, for your vote for change. You are in my prayers. VOTE MDC – the light will eventually shine again Zimbabwe.
Sokwanele
Get it all on record now – get the films – get the witnesses – because somewhere down the road some b*stard will get up and say that this never happened’(like they do already)
This rogue regime must/will pay for there sins! If they don’t here on earth, they certainly will on Judgement day.
February 27th, 2009 17:54
this is unbelievable.
February 28th, 2009 12:18
I picked up a news article that Radio Netherlands is giving us opportunity to comment between now and Friday 6 March 2008. They are asking us to comment on whether SA and other SADC leaders have failed Zim, whether sanctions should be lifted, etc. These views will be aired internationally next Friday.
I strongly believe that a political solution is NOT possible in ZIM. The only thing that broke the back of the Apartheid regime in South Africa was intense pressure from the international community. No interim government, and not the might of the ANC military wing. Only international pressure works!
You should be able to find it on http://www.radionetherlands.nl under the heading: current affairs.
Sokwanele could you please check this out and possibly make this link available under your Take Action Banner? Zim needs every bit of outside exposure it can get!
Thanks
Kathy
Cape Town, SA