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Post-election violence 2008 - Index of articles & images
MDC
Secretary-General Biti abducted, whereabouts still unknown
Centre for Community Development in Zimbabwe
(CCDZ)
June 12, 2008
The Secretary-General
of the Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) , Mr Tendai Biti was
abducted by a dozen plain cloth men at the Harare International
airport upon arrival from South Africa. Information received from
the MDC indicate that Biti was abducted at the airport as soon as
he landed and before he had his travel documents checked by immigration
officials. Biti who is also the Member of Parliament for Harare
East was abducted in similar circumstances as other opposition leaders
who have been abducted by armed, plain cloth men driving twin cab
trucks in recent days. Most of the MDC and civic activists abducted
by suspected Central Intelligence Organization (CIO) after the 29
March elections were discovered a few days later, their bodies mutilated
and in a state of decomposition.
At the time of publishing, Hon Biti's whereabouts are still unknown.
The Centre for Community Development In Zimbabwe (CCDZ) condemns
the continued harassment of opposition leaders and pro-democracy
activists in Zimbabwe. We call for an urgent and unconditional release
of Honorable Biti by the State agents detaining him. We urge the
regime to exercise restraint and know that the world is watching.
In the face of the continued harassment of the MDC leaders, it is
difficult to pass the presidential run-off on June 27 as free and
fair. For Zimbabwe, the run off presents a golden opportunity to
right wrongs of the past and give the people a chance to install
a legitimate government that respect human rights and the rule of
law. The run-off election, is an opportunity for Zimbabwe to restore
people's confidence in national public affairs.
CCDZ wishes to reiterate the urgent need for the deployment of international
observers in the rural areas where not only opposition activists
are victimized but also community leaders such as headmasters, teachers
and other civil servants. We call upon SADC, AU and the United Nations
to take immediate steps and deploy a peacekeeping force to protect
the defenseless voters who are at the mercy of the youth militia
and ZANU PF vigilante groups. The situation remains desperate as
rural voters continue to be petrol-bombed, abducted, tortured and
murdered for supporting the MDC. These vigilante groups continue
to abduct community leaders in the 3 Mashonaland provinces,Manicaland
and Midlands provinces.
The plight of WOZA women activists
CCDZ condemns the continued incarceration
of Women
of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA) activists. We call for the immediate
and unconditional release of Jenni Williams, Magodonga Mahlangu
and other women activists who continue to be victimized for their
political beliefs. An open society that ZANU PF claims to exist
in Zimbabwe must be one where citizens' right to freedom of speech
and freedom of association are respected. We salute and express
our solidarity with the gallant women activists who continue to
disobey an illegitimate government that continues to impose its
will on people who have rejected it at the polls.
Visit the CCDZ
fact
sheet
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