Back to Index

Porta farm saga continues
Amnesty International-Zimbabwe
Extracted from The Activist, September 2004
October 13, 2004

The Porta farm saga has taken a new twist with the relatives of 11 people who allegedly died of tear gas demanding the exhumation of the bodies so that postmortems can be carried out. At the same time, Amnesty International is demanding a full and independent inquiry into the deaths of the 11 people. Responding to the allegations against the police, the police spokesperson Wayne Vhudzijena denied the allegations.

By the time of publishing this Newsletter, fifteen (15) people are reported to have died, pregnant mothers miscarried and others affected by the allegedly killer tear gas used by Norton police when they were trying to evict the residents of Porta farm on 2 September 2004. Among the dead include, Ronald Job Daniels (5 months old), Kuyeka Phiri (30 years old), Viola Mupetsi (30 years old) of House Number K186 Porta Farm Harare, Vasco John (65 years old) of House Number L58 Porta Farm Harare, Julia Nheredzo (32 years old) of House Number K69 Porta Farm Harare, Matilda Matsheza (5 months old) of House Number D49 Porta Farm Harare, Raphael Chatima (40 years old) of House Number C29 Porta Farm Harare, Monalisa Banda (7 months), Yolanda Rungano (5 months), Angeline Nhamoinesu (46 years) and Fungai Livson’s 1 day old son, Jethro Chipamavanga (30 years old) and Memory Mwimbiri (25 years old).

Human rights activists were also not spared. Amnesty International Zimbabwe official Obert Chinhamo and his colleague Mr Masawuko Maruwacha of Non Violent Action and Strategies for Social Change (NOVASC) were arrested by the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) and taken to Norton Police Station. The two were arrested on 2 September 2004, when they went to the farm to assess the situation following a report that the police were evicting and tear-gassing the residents.

The matter went to Norton Magistrates Court who released them on paying $100 000 bail each. Mr Chinhamo and Maruwacha were represented by Mr Alec Muchadehama of Mbidzo, Muchadehama and Makoni Legal Practitioners. The matter went to court for the second time on 20 September and was further postponed to 20 October 2004.

The historical background of the Porta farm case is that on or about 1991, the Ministry of Local Government, Public Works and National Housing in conjunction with the Harare City Council moved various people from informal settlements in and around Harare to Porta farm in Norton as a temporary measure in anticipation of permanent resettlement. This took place at a time when Zimbabwe played host to the Common Wealth Heads of Government Meeting (popularly known as CHOGM). More than a decade later the majority still remains at Porta farm and the saga goes on.

Donate to help Porta Farm victims
Amnesty International Zimbabwe is seeking donations from well-wishers to help Porta farm victims to seek medication, food and clothing. Presently, many people need medication because of medical complications caused by the tear gas. There are many orphans, child headed families, old aged and disabled people who need assistance in form of food, clothing and medication.

NGOs that have been assisting the residents have stopped for unknown reasons. A clinic was closed and an orphanage demolished. For more information about the Porta farm case, do not hesitate to contact Amnesty International Zimbabwe.

Donations in cash or kind are welcome
The following are our Bank Details in case you may want to send your donation.

Account Number 1
Name of Account: Amnesty International Zimbabwe
Currency: United States Dollar
Account Number: 0222065606201
Name of Bank: Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe Limited
Swift Code: SBICZWHXXX

Account Number 2
Name of Account: Amnesty International Zimbabwe
Currency: Zimbabwe Dollars Account
Account Number: 0140065606201
Name of Bank: Stanbic Bank Zimbabwe Limited
Swift Code: SBICZWHXXX

Visit the Amnesty International Zimbabwe fact sheet

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