“This article suggests ‘foreigners’ have been involved in politically-motivated violence in Manicaland province. This also happens to be where Zimbabwe’s only refugee camp, Tongogara, is located. We, and our beneficiaries, are concerned that the assertions contained in the article may lead some to conclude that refugees have somehow been involved and that this may give rise to tension between the refugee and local communities,” said Hepie in a letter to the editor this week.
“We wish to draw these concerns to your attention and stress our mutual obligations not to harm inter-community relations wherever possible,” said Hepie. She said her office was not aware of any substantiated instances of foreigners being involved in the post-election violence meted out to thousands of MDC members by Zanu (PF) militias, the army and the police during the past four months.
Anyone with evidence of foreigners having been involved in the violence is asked to contact the editor as soon as possible. Email editor@thezimbabwean.co.uk Â