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CCDZ activists in Gokwe fear for own lives
Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe (CCDZ)
July 23, 2012

About a dozen activists in Gokwe who organized the Peace-building meeting that was disrupted by suspected Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) operatives and ZANU PF activists at Nyamhara Primary School in Gokwe North last week have since gone into hiding fearing for their lives. The aborted Peace-building meeting had been organized by the Centre for Community Development In Zimbabwe (CCDZ) as part of an ongoing initiative to promote peace and political tolerance in previously declared 'no-go areas'.

The headmaster and teachers at Nyamhara are also under fire for allowing the meeting to take place at the school premises. One of the affected activists who fled to Harare to seek legal assistance from CCDZ said that their community in Gokwe has not seen peace since the aborted peace-building meeting. 'We are now living in fear because the CIOs who are driving unmarked cars are harassing people especially those who attended and helped publicize the peace-building meeting', said the activist whom we cannot name for security reasons. They came during the night and harassed our families. If they are genuine police officers why are they visiting our homes during the night under the cover of darkness? queried the activist.

CCDZ has since referred the matter to the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR).

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