Addressing mourners at the funeral of MDC Mashonaland East Provincial
Treasurer Shepherd Jani, abducted and killed recently by alleged ZANU-PF
youth militants, blamed the ruling ZANU-PF party of President Robert Mugabe,
for what many observers charge is a state-backed campaign of political
terror.
Correspondent Thomas Chiripasi of VOA’s Studio 7 for Zimbabwe covered the
funeral in Murehwa and told reporter Carole Gombakomba that mourners were
clearly in shock and unable to conceal their apprehension of deadly
violence.
United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Louise Arbour condemned
the political violence in Zimbabwe and called for an investigation. She said
Wednesday that although it is difficult to obtain precise information on the
range of violence or the number of politically motivated killings, there
“appears to be an increasing pattern of people being targeted for
politically motivated assassination.”.
Those observing the violence that has become widespread since the country’s
March 29 elections said the pattern of abuses has changed from
indiscriminate beatings and sometimes killings of rural residents suspected
of having voted for the opposition, to abductions followed by the murders of
targeted opposition party organizers. Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Â Jani and Tonderai Ndira were among the most recent victims. The two were
taken from their homes, murdered, and dumped in Goromonzi, Mashonaland east.
Another opposition member, Dereck Sora, was abducted Tuesday from his home
in Chihuri village, Shamva North constituency, Mashonaland Central, by
suspected state security agents. Sources said his whereabouts and condition
were unknown.
Zimbabwe Peace Project Chairman Alois Chaumba told reporter Jonga Kandemiiri
that he believes the shift in violence has occurred because ZANU-PF is
anxious to avoid scrutiny by international observers, but wants to pursue a
campaign of terror.
Meanwhile, sources said ZANU-PF militia members on Wednesday attacked Kodzwa
village in the Mazowe Central constituency of Mashonaland Central province,
leading the residents to fight back in self-defense. They said police were
called in and an army helicopter hovered as more than 20 opposition members
were arrested.
Mazowe Central member of parliament Shepherd Mushonga told reporter Jonga
Kandemiiri of VOA’s Studio 7 for Zimbabwe that the ZANU-PF government sought
to instill fear in the people of Chiweshe by sending in an army helicopter.
Amnesty International in an annual report issued Wednesday classified
Zimbabwe with Iraq and Myanmar or Burma as a “human rights flashpoint”
needing immediate action.
Amnesty International Secretary General Irene Khan said Zimbabwe and other
such countries must close the gap between promises on rights and
performance.
The human rights watchdog said in its review of 2007 that human rights in
Zimbabwe continue to be violated, charging that state agents including the
police restrict freedom of association, torture, and abduct opposition
members and civic activists.
Amnesty International Zimbabwe specialist Simeon Mawanza told reporter
Patience Rusere that conditions in Zimbabwe have continued to deteriorate in
2008.
VOA
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