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Political activist assaulted and left for dead by state agents in
attempted abduction
Restoration of Human Rights (ROHR)
January 06, 2010
ROHR Zimbabwe
has received a shocking report of an act of political violence from
an MDC political activist who was brutally assaulted by state security
agents in a failed abduction plot.
Julius Mutavira Gono (43) of ward 10, Chiredzi South
constituency was heavily beaten in broad day light, left battling
for his life while his family and neighbors watched helplessly,
a day before Christmas day. He was assaulted by three armed state
security agents who drove at his house in Madzimure village, with
a Nissan twin cab with unmarked plates. The incident is now in the
hands of Chikombedzi police peace section case reference number
30/01/11 and the notorious CIO agents have been identified as Matambanadzo,
Tinago and Magara all from Chikombedzi police station Chiredzi South
constituency.
A medical report carried out confirms that Mutavira
sustained internal back and leg injuries, a swollen red eye and
he is still in need of further medical attention.
Mutavira told ROHR Zimbabwe that he was being targeted
because of his political involvement with the MDC party. Matambanadzo
told Mutavira that he was punishing him for the complaints he is
receiving against Mutavira's involvement in MDC affairs. Julius
said he now fears for his life after Matambanadzo further threatened
him that he will not live to see the next election.
The incident took place took weeks after the visit
of war veteran Jabulani Sibanda to Chiredzi South, who is alleged
to be on a country wide campaign to fan criminal activities of political
violence against members of the MDC party.
Despite the fact that the case has been reported
to the police, nothing has been done to see that justice takes its
course on the perpetrators who are still roaming free.
ROHR Zimbabwe
is raising serious concerns to the coalition government on the issue
of prioritization of the security of ordinary people ahead of the
envisaged elections at the backdrop of organized criminal activities
committed with impunity during the orgy of violence in 2008
election violence. As human rights defenders we are grossly
disappointed by the brutal conduct, unprofessionalism, lack of independence
of the security agents and uniformed forces who are supposed to
be the custodians of the enforcement of the rule of law and guardians
of all citizens regardless of political affiliation.
Politicization of security forces remains a major threat to the
existence of peace in the rural communities. Cognizant of the fact
that security agents played a pivotal role in the wide spread state
sponsored gross violation of human rights in the 2008 harmonized
elections, ROHR Zimbabwe challenges the coalition government to
carry out reforms to ensure the independence of security forces
as agreed under article XIII of the Global
Political Agreement signed by the three principals.
We hold that
if elections are held under the presently constituted law enforcement
structures widely accused of being partisan, there is a danger of
a precedence of March - June 2008 political violence.
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