Shivering in the coldest March for 50 years was no worse than the suffering of civil rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa being deprived of blankets while being illegally held in a Harare police cell. Blizzards made travel difficult, preventing many supporters joining us, but those who made it displayed posters such as ‘Free Beatrice Mtetwa’, ‘Stop harassment of Zimbabwean human rights groups’, ‘End police lawlessness’ and ‘Restore rule of law in Zimbabwe’.
Our letter to Tanzanian President Kikwete says: ‘We express our alarm at the illegal behaviour of the police in Zimbabwe. Within hours of an overwhelming vote for a new constitution which we were told would enhance human rights, police arrested Prime Minister Tsvangirai’s senior legal advisor and three of his staff who were reported to be preparing a dossier on allegations of corruption involving three Zanu (PF) ministers.
The prominent human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa was arrested when she arrived and asked to see the police search warrant. The incident comes after a steady increase in high-handed behaviour by the police including the harassment of officials of the Anti-Corruption Commission investigating the Zanu (PF) ministers. We urge you to insist that the police in Zimbabwe act within the law and respect the spirit of the Global Political Agreement.’
A similar letter was sent to President Jacob Zuma. We pushed a copy of the letter under the door of the Zimbabwe Embassy ahead of the visit to London this week by ministers to beg for money. Most remaining EU sanctions are apparently to be lifted following the ludicrous referendum on a new constitution and now Britain seems to be eager to give Mugabe anything else he wants.
For 11years now the Vigil has been trying to make the point to the British government that there is no future in dealing with Mugabe on his own terms. Lift sanctions and it will make no difference.
There will be another demand. Instead of pouring money into propping up Zanu (PF) with aid, the UK’s money should be better directed.
Post published in: News
These guys must come to Zimbabwe not what they are doing that side of the world and see for them self that Zim is good.