“It is a calling to heal the mental wounds of torture, piece together what has fallen apart and bring home those who have lost their way,” says Godfrey Phiri, coordinator for Tree of Life.
This is a humanitarian organization that seeks to revive the spirits of millions of Africans who find themselves torn apart by both their physical wounds and traumatic mental experiences that they no longer believe in the possibility of going on living.
A trained counsellor, Phiri knows better than to simply dish out literature on how to “forgive those who did wrong to you” and “don’t worry, the wounds will heal – look at me”.
“With every person I meet, I look beyond the surface, beyond the external qualities that seem to divide us and into the core of the very person – that sacred centre where God resides and show them unconditional love. This is the basic,” he explained.
The United Nations Convention Against Torture describes torture as, among other things, any act by which severe pain or suffering, physical or mental, is intentionally inflicted on a person for such purposes as obtaining from them or a third person information or a confession; punishing them for an act they or a third party committed or is suspected to have committed …….when such pain or suffering is inflicted by or at the instigation of or with the consent or acquiescence of a public official or person acting in an official capacity.
Physical torture
The UNCAT also makes the prohibition of torture “absolute”, with no exceptional circumstances even during war, threat of war, internal political instability or any other public emergency. Yet in Africa, Zimbabwe included, cases continue to increase, thereby give people like Phiri a lot more hard work to do.
Phiri described 11 types of physical and six mental torture methods his clients have recounted during counselling sessions.
Falanga (beatings under the feet), sexual torture or rape, electric shock, choking, burns and mutilation are some of the most common forms of physical torture that will resonate with Zimbabweans, as they have been most frequently used by Zanu (PF) and state operatives against those accused of supporting the “opposition”.
“Mentally, there has been isolation, watching other people being tortured, threats, mock executions, sexual humiliation and lack of food and sleep,” said Phiri.
He believes that there could be some other forms that have been used especially Zimbabwe, from which the victims never lived to tell their stories and describe their torture.
Rehabilitation
A big challenge stands in the way of African humanitarian workers and organizations dealing with torture.
“The main challenge we face is that of caring and rehabilitation,” said Phiri.
“South Africa hosts the largest number of migrants and refugees and the conflicts on the continent are still far from over. In Zimbabwe torture is still continuing and many victims of past cases are yet to receive help and rehabilitation.”
The national unity government in Zimbabwe established an Organ on National Healing and Reconciliation, but Phiri says that has not helped.
“All they have done so far is go to rallies, meetings, conferences to talk about rehabilitation. They leave nothing tangible behind. They get into their vehicles to report to their superiors that national healing is going on well and claim travel allowances for these hopeless trips.”
Tree of Life has tried to do things differently and through it, some people testify to have been given a new start.
Why a Tree?
“The programme was planted like a tree in SA by Zimbabweans. Its approach is based on a survivor-to-survivor model of intervention.
“It is a group approach to the healing and empowerment of survivors of organized violence and torture that is facilitated by survivors themselves, who have been trained and supervised in the methodology.”
“It uses the metaphor of a tree to provide the framework for understanding the trauma experience and, through a series of inter-related processes, leads the survivor into an appreciation of their strengths.”
The four-day workshop is code-named “Resurrection, revival and rescue”, with research into the programme’s effectiveness having been carried out using a psychiatric screening instrument measuring depression and anxiety.
“Participants are also invited for feedback in a structured self-report or evaluation upon completion of the workshop. The concept has a long term recovery process that deals with the person as a whole through story-telling in a circle (dare/idale) – a culture that is popular in many countries, particularly in Africa. Self-care is an added value to the programme, which is about re-igniting the energy in our bodies.
Gender-sensitive
“The Tree of Life circle is also gender-sensitive, as women take part in the proceedings as equal partners to solve both family and community problems, as well as the technical challenges.”
A Zimbabwean at heart, Phiri’s heart bleeds for the whole continent, where his organisation’s efforts are focused.
“Africa needs peace,” he said. “Africa needs peace now. It is such a beautiful continent, yet rivers of blood are still flowing and dark clouds are still hovering on its horizon and blurring its beauty. What we have seen in the Ivory Coast must not happen in Zimbabwe and Swaziland.
“The SADC and its SA mediation on the Zimbabwean crisis must really force the parties to uphold and implement what they signed up to.”
Sunday is the World Day Against Torture, and Phiri has a word for the multitudes who have suffered under repressive regimes:
“We must all join hands and commemorate this day, share our experiences and map the way forward in our lives. Here in Johannesburg, there will be a jamboree that will begin with a march, in which the police, government departments, schools and other organizations will take part and keynote speakers will address the public.”
Post published in: Zimbabwe News