Letters & Opinions
Activists intimidated at national healing conference
Frances Lovemore
2009-11-12, Issue 457
http://pambazuka.org/en/category/letters/60204
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Dear Sir,
I note that no mention is made of the two people who accompanied Mrs Sekai Holland to this conference [Zimbabwe: Healing, reconciliation and reconstruction], Mai Zembe and a lady by the name Kachakamadzo. These two ladies intimidated Gertrude Hambira and Jestina Mukoko at the conference, particularly over a DVD that they tried to show as part of their presentation.
On return to Zimbabwe, Gertrude Hambira, whose flight was delayed overnight, was greeted with the news that there had been an attempt to abduct her at gunpoint, and as she was not yet home, a shot was fired toward her husband, who was unable to physically produce her. Her five-year-old son and 70-year-old mother were in the house at the time. At present Gertrude and her family are in hiding in Harare. It is suspected that there is a direct link between the presence of these two ladies, and the attempt to abduct Gertrude.
It is worth noting that the Organ of National Healing has not commented on any of the violent acts that have occurred since its inception, not on any violent attacks on farm workers, union members (who have suffered gun shot wounds), activists or innocent bystanders. There has been no attempt to counter the profound hate speech and disinformation campaign being run by Zanu PF. There was no public comment from the Organ of National Healing when the Special Rapporteur on Torture was denied entry at Harare International Airport and was forced to spend the night in the airport lounge, despite having received an official invitation from Patrick Chinamasa, which was rescinded while he was in transit to Harare. The silence from the Organ in all of these events has been deafening. At present there is an MDC driver, who was abducted at gun point 10 days ago, and tortured while Manfred Nowak was detained at the airport, and remains without adequate medical treatment, in Harare Remand. All attempts to provide suitable treatment for his injuries have been thwarted. There is no method of requesting the Organ to intervene on his behalf.
I find it disturbing that ministers are granted public International platforms, when they refuse to tackle the very real issues of ongoing violence in Zimbabwe. The story of Gertrude Hambira is one that must be followed and investigated, if it is true that this attack occurred as a result of this meeting, then Ms Holland needs to comment publicly and apologise for the presence of her 2 associates.
* Dr Frances Lovemore is director of the Counselling Services Unit, Zimbabwe.
* Please send comments to editor@pambazuka.org or comment online at Pambazuka News.
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Mr Lovemore, in the assumption that you were not in Syracuse University, i wish to mention, and kindly so, that you may need to verify your allegations, sources, and their intentions in this blatant disinformation. I attended all sessions of this imprtant international meeting and witnessed the air of collegiality and a need to support healing. At no point was the issue of intimidation raised by anyone, and the organizers seem unaware of these profoundly suspcious allegations. Have you contacted the organizers or other participants for verification? Did the 'victims' raise this issue with the organizers at any time? Am sure the organizers will investigate your allegations, but they must be disappointed by the conspiracy of silence and the choice of platform to raise these allegations, if in deed they raised them with you.
Otieno Orwa