The Sunday Mail (Zimbabwe)
27 January 2002

Amani Trust Fanning Political Violence
By a Correspondent.

Organised political violence being carried out by the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) hit squads has reached alarming proportions and until the leadership of these killer cells and their sponsors are brought to book more lives are bound to be lost during the ongoing presidential election campaigns.

In previous by-elections, especially in Bikita and Chikomba held last year, the killer cells were not properly organised and lacked mobility. The hired youths bussed from Harare and Chikombedzi to these two constituencies moved in large groups and often took to the mountains after a successful "kill".

The method and tactics have now changed dramatically following unlimited funding from purported donors in Western countries.

Apart from being armed, the killer squads are now highly mobile, with Japanese-manufactured 4x4 Nissan Hard-body-type vehicles the preferred models. Above all, most have received military training in countries such as Rwanda and Uganda as revealed recently by local newspapers. This has now enhanced their capability and precision.

At the forefront in support of the destabilisation programme, which is aimed at creating anarchy and lawlessness country-wide, is a hitherto obscure organisation calling itself Amani Trust.

Its director, Tony Reeler, recently went public and announced this his organisation was closing down the safe houses following disclosures that the houses were actually being used as torture chambers and bases by the MDC killer cells.

Despite claims by Reeler that his organisation assists all victims of political violence regardless of their political affiliation, the recently closed safe houses funded by his organisation harboured criminals and
murderers being sought by law-enforcement agencies. It is against this background that Amani Trust's activities should be looked at and investigated.

Already some of the criminals facing murder charges have admitted that they were at one time or another given sanctuary at the safe houses funded by Amani Trust, which obviously makes Reeler and his organisation accomplices in acts of terror and mayhem that are being perpetrated by MDC killer cells.

If at all the safe houses were not being used for purposes other than that of housing victims of political violence, why were they closed and presumably relocated hurriedly after disclosures of their location by the media?

Amani Trust has thrust itself into Zimbabwe's political playground and, as such, should be made responsible and accountable for all the nefarious activities surrounding these torture chambers.

For Reeler to pretend that his organisation was not aware or informed of the presence of rented hooligans at premises hosing his so-called victims of political violence when, in fact, they are wanted criminals, is itself a serious criminal offence warranting prosecution.

When the Government enacted a piece of legislation that harmonised the activities of the NGO's there was an outcry of interference in their operations and the loudest shouts of all came from Tony Reeler's Amani Trust. It's high time all NGOs were reminded that no matter how much they try to hide their clandestine activities the long arm of the law will eventually catch up with them.

By pretending to heal the wounds of those who suffered during the Matabeleland disturbances, Amani Trust is once again fanning ethnic divisions and hatred. The organisation has taken it upon itself to be he
judge and the jury deciding when and how the victims should be compensated. It is such warped thinking that otherwise renders pertinent objectives expounded by NGOs doubtful. Exposure of Amani Trust's not so charitable activities also to rest calls by NGOs to be involved in the voter education campaign. Amani Trust, but its actions has declared itself a political opponent of the Government. The organisation can no longer be allowed to participate in civic affairs, let alone to be given the responsibility to conduct an impartial voters education campaign.

Suggestions by the MDC that NGOs should be allowed to conduct voter education campaigns are therefore insipid and should not be taken seriously. Currently some of them are being used as conduits for huge amounts of money earmarked for the MDC's presidential campaign while others are already under investigation under the Political Finances Act, which prohibits foreign funding of Zimbabwe's political parties.

Periodic reports submitted by the NGOs to their countries form the basis of vilifying the Zimbabwe Government policies on the international foray. No wonder why the European Union is always caught with its pants down whenever discussions on the ongoing land reform programme take place.

A typical lie being peddled by the NGOs is this land is being redistributed to Zanu-PF card-carrying members only. A simple perusal of the recipients' list will, on the contrary, reveal that hundreds of MDC card-carrying members and their officials have benefited from the programme.

Recently SADAC leaders expressed concern over what they termed blatant interference by some NGO's in the internal affairs of African states under the guise of initiating development projects.

The leaders urged the NGOs to stick to their brief rather than try to influence political events in member countries.

The only option left for the Government is to strike off Amani Trust from its register of NGOs as its activities have shown beyond reasonable doubt that they do not confirm to that of a genuine NGO but rather a political opponent bent on dividing the nation.

It is also within the confines of Zimbabwe's laws to demand from Amani Trust names and identity particulars of all those given sanctuary at these torture houses. This will help law enforcement agencies solve the numerous politically motivated violence cases still outstanding in their records.