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Violence, recrimination and arrests after policeman's death in Glen View - Index of articles
Crisis Report Issue 154
Crisis
in Zimbabwe Coalition
February 25, 2013
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Human
Rights Defenders Live in Trepidation
The town of
Masvingo has reportedly turned into a house of consternation amid
a barrage of raids on Non-Governmental Organisations (NGOs) and
harsh targeting of their staff, which sources suspect has roped
in the Central Intelligence Organization (CIO).
One human rights
defender, whose name has been supplied, is said to have left
Masvingo in a hurry after learning of a suspected Central Intelligence
Organisation (CIO) underground operation.
The witch-hunt
is reportedly eyeing 10 human rights defenders based in Masvingo.
The Crisis Report
Team, after learning of the development from a source in Masvingo,
spoke to the Director of the organisation who confirmed that the
activist had left unharmed.
Community
Tolerance Reconciliation and Development Trust (COTRAD), a non-governmental
organisation based in the Southern town, said:
"Sources
inside the security sector have revealed that a contingent comprising
of a 10 member high level gang of the Central Intelligence Organization
from Harare are on a tour to threaten, thwart NGOs work in Masvingo
ahead of the referendum and general elections."
According to
COTRAD, the CIO team has a list of 10 people they are targeting.
Suspected to
be on the hit list are: Thomas Mbetu, the Regional Coordinator of
Zimrights,
Prosper Mtandadzi, the ZESN
Field Officer for Masvingo, and Peter Muchengeti, a Zimbabwe
Peace Project Field Officer.
Elliot Muposhi,
the Regional Coordinator for Zimbabwe
Congress of Trade Union (ZCTU), Gamuchirai Mukura, the Project
Coordinator of COTRAD, Zivanai Muzorodzi, the COTRAD Programs Manager
and other unrevealed names complete the shadowy list.
The CIO deployees
are now suspected to be behind the night time break-in
at the ZESN offices in Masvingo which saw invaluable property and
documents being whisked away.
Masvingo is
not new to attacks on Non-Governmental Organisations as on February
11, 2012, Governor Titus Maluleke announced a ban on their activities
flanked by members of the security forces.
The Governor's
actions followed a Zanu-PF resolution to crackdown on NGOs made
at its 12th annual People's Conference in Bulawayo in December
2011.
Another resolution
against NGOs and their work was made by the party's 13th annual
National People's Conference in Gweru in December 2012.
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