Back to Index

This article participates on the following special index pages:

Kidnapping - a personal account
Duke du Coudray
February 20, 2002

On leaving the Ayrshire club in Raffingora, some 30 kilometres north of my home town, where I had been attending a stress seminar, my vehicle was surrounded by 22 ( ZANU PF) youths, armed with sticks and whips. They demanded that I opened my car as they could see copies of the daily news on the back seat. On opening the trunk they found two sealed boxes, these opened revealed that they contained 7000 M.D.C campaign pamphlets each. (The Movement for Democratic change candidate, Mr Morgan Tsvangirai is the biggest challenge President Robert Mugabe has ever had to his 22 year rule since independence.) They forced me to accompany them on a two hour walk through the bush. My shoes had been removed, and I was made to carry one box of pamphlets on my head. I was hit on the shoulders when it was considered, that I was slowing their progress to the local ZANU P-F headquarters. I was constantly reminded, that I was about to be killed and buried with my box of pamphlets, as a warning to my fellow M.D.C campaigners.

The local farmers having set up observation points were able to assist the police to intercepting our group. We were all taken to Raffingora police station where I was duly charged under the new Public Order and Security Bill act, for holding a political meeting, without police permission. My kidnapers were left free to walk away. So much for Mr Mugabe's promise of a free and fair election. Did he perhaps mean "YOU MAY VOTE FOR ANY ONE OF YOUR CHOICE, PROVIDED THAT CHOICE IS ME."

I thank the Raffingora farmers as well as those who drove from my home town to assist with my safe return. The campaign goes on.

Please credit www.kubatana.net if you make use of material from this website. This work is licensed under a Creative Commons License unless stated otherwise.

TOP