Ephraim Nsingo
HARARE, Jun 28 (IPS) - "We are too familiar with the violence that was meted upon numerous of us from 1890 when the colonialists came into our country right up to the most recent elections. Chief among these forms of violence is sexual violence, and it concomitant implication, HIV infection. Zimbabwean women now have the lowest life expectancy world wide because of HIV & AIDS -- 34 years."
This from a statement issued by the Feminist Political Education Project (FePEP) on Apr. 10, when the country was still waiting for inexplicably-delayed results of the Mar. 29 presidential poll. FePEP expressed the view that regardless of who won, neither Tsvangirai nor Mugabe could bring all sides together and move forward in the interests of the whole country.
Priscilla Misihairabwi-Mushonga, a former MDC parliamentarian and one of FePEP's coordinators, told IPS that Tsvangirai’s Jun. 22 withdrawal from the presidential run-off "was the right thing for him to do, albeit too late".
"Our position has been consistent; the current problems in Zimbabwe cannot be resolved through an election," said Misihairabwi-Mushonga. "Our society is divided right through the middle and any government would by nature have to be inclusive if we are to seriously work towards resolving the current impasse. The problems in this country will not go away. We should continue to press for dialogue."
While ZANU-PF hastily prepares to swear 84-year-old Robert Mugabe in as president, Zimbabweans continue to count the cost of the party's brutal fight to remain in power.
"Women have suffered most in this violence," said Netsai Mushonga, the Coordinator of the Women's Coalition of Zimbabwe, an umbrella body of Zimbabwean women's organisations. From what we have gathered so far, we expect the number of rape cases to treble. We are yet to sit down as an organisation to do a detailed analysis of the situation."
According to Alouis Chaumba, the chairperson of the Zimbabwe Peace Project -- an NGO that documents incidents of political violence -- most male opposition supporters have fled rural areas; leaving women more vulnerable.
"To force the men to return, ZANU PF militia have a tendency of abducting women and children. There are numerous cases of women and children being taken as ransom and forcibly detained in bases until their fathers or husbands return to their villages. Women are being assaulted, tortured, and sexually harassed," said Chaumba.
Martha Marime*, a 29-year-old woman from Chaona Village in Mashonaland Central Province, Chiweshe narrated how she was abducted at the end of May and repeatedly raped by ZANU PF militia for hours.
"I don't think I will ever recover from the pain and embarrassment I went through. I was forced to do things I have never done in my life and it really pains me to think to think of it. They took turns to rape me, and after that they beat me up saying I was a prostitute. I was two months pregnant when they beat me up, and the very day they released me, I had a miscarriage," said Marime.
The leader of a prominent women's organisation, who declined to be named, said most women were being harassed because their husbands, sons or male relatives were suspected to be supporters of the opposition.
"We are still compiling the details, but we have got one recent example where Abigail Chiroto was abducted and gruesomely murdered because her husband is an MDC activist. To make it worse, it looks like they did all this while her four-year-old son was watching. Things are really bad for women, but most of them are not brave enough to come out in the open for fear of retribution," said the official.
Abigail Chiroto, the wife of the newly elected mayor of Harare, Emmanuel Chiroto, was abducted from her home in Hatcliffe, Harare, and later found dead at a farm on the outskirts of the capital. Her son was unharmed.
Female candidates have also been victims of the violence. The losing candidate for Mt Pleasant House of Assembly Constituency, Trudy Stevenson -- of the MDC faction led by Arthur Mutambara -- has for the past few weeks been living in hiding following repeated attempts by suspected ZANU PF supporters to attack her home.
Said Stevenson: "I am in a safe place, but obviously I am very worried that the place will be attacked any time, in view of this pattern repeated several times with people being abducted, tortured and murdered and the houses petrol-bombed. Most of my colleagues are not safe either."
Theresa Makone, the newly-elected legislator for Harare North and chairperson of the MDC Women's League has been living in hiding for over a month now. Her driver, Beta Chokururama, was murdered by suspected ZANU PF militias on Jun. 13.
Justice Minister Patrick Chinamasa denied that his party is responsible for the reign of terror since the Mar. 29 elections.
"The opposition has been making all of sorts of allegations to draw unnecessary attention, for reasons which we do not know. From information we got from the police, MDC supporters have been perpetrating violence against our people, then steal our campaign material and disguise themselves as members of our party," said Chinamasa, who also chairs ZANU PF's media sub-committee for the elections.
Asked about incidents of rape at ZANU PF bases, Chinamasa said only that his party "does not have any such bases".
Robert Mugabe is expected to join other African heads of state at the African Union Summit now taking place in Egypt, where despite recent criticism from African leaders includng Zambian president Levy Mwanawasa -- who as chair of the Southern Africa Development Community stated that the elections in Zimbabwe fell far short of regional standards for fairness -- the early signs are that the A.U. will propose a power-sharing agreement for Zimbabwe similar to what was agreed in Kenya.
But how will such an agreement address the grievous injury and injustice that has fallen so heavily on the backs of Zimbabweans, particularly women?
*Not her real name.
Tuesday, July 29, 2008
Wednesday, July 9, 2008
STOP THE VIOLENCE AND PROTECT WOMEN AND GIRLS NOW
Presented to:
Human Rights Council, June 2008 Session
Geneva, Switzerland
30 May 2008
We, the Zimbabwean women and women worldwide, urgently call for stopping of violence in Zimbabwe and protection of women and girls, in this post election catastrophe. This is an emergency as the country gears up for a presidential run-off on the 27th of June 2008.The violence persists and is real. No election observers are yet in the country, despite our calls, appeals, cries to Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), African Union (AU) and the United Nations.
We are watching a silent genocide of the poor and powerless, due to political induced murders, criminal actions, and collapse of basic services resulting in deaths due to lack of health care, food, shelter for the displaced, especially after the March 29th, 2008 elections. Most of the affected are women and children.
• The post election murders, burnings, lootings and intimidation have most affected women and girls since its rural targeted and 80% of women live in rural areas.
• Over 800 homes have been burnt down, making it traumatic for mothers who have to feed the children and care for the sick
• Over 10 000 people have fled their homes, are displaced and squatters with relatives and with fear of going back home. Children displaced are not in schools
• Over 50 people have been murdered in cold blood, and mostly from the opposition.
• An estimated 7000 teachers have fled their schools as a number have been beaten in the eyes of parents and pupils.
• Doctors for human Rights report that over 2000 serious cases of physical torture and beatings have passed through their hands and a lot of those they treated have suffered serious fractures to an extent that most are permanently handicapped.
• The oldest victim of the post election violence is an old woman with 12 grandchildren all of them orphaned and whose son is alleged to have campaigned for the opposition.
• The youngest female victim is a 15-year-old girl who was stripped naked together with her pregnant mother forced to lie down and beaten on the breasts and buttocks, just many women have been so battered.
• Several girls and women are feared raped. The youngest child seriously assaulted is only 3 years.
• More than 3,000 Zimbabweans die every weak due to AIDS, and their life expectancy is 34 years for women.
• Unemployment is 80% and inflation is 165 000 % and the highest in the world.
• 95% of women of the 200 000 women made homeless and jobless by the government 2005 Operation Murambatsviina. Women’s church gatherings disrupted, women beaten up and abused while at prayer.
• Over 3 million Zimbabweans are in South Africa where they are facing xenophobic attacks
This situation is an extra-ordinary emergency for women and girls. Every person and institution must do everything in their power to stop the violence, restore rule of law, and allow Zimbabweans to exercise their right to vote and live in peace.
We, as Zimbabwean women and women worldwide:
Re-iterate the long-standing position of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that the failure by government and law enforcement, such as police and army to respect the rights of all citizens is the greatest threat to peace, democracy and development in Zimbabwe.
Really concerned by a real danger of civil strife catalyzed by the growing humanitarian crisis. We are witnessing increasing levels of tension and political polarization among the population, which turned out to vote on March 29. The media reports on the party political position adopted by the law enforcement, which should ordinarily maintain neutrality. The recent purchase of military weapons adds to this fear.
Demand cessation of organized and targeted intimidation against the citizens, particularly the use of women and girls as weapons of ‘war’, evidenced by the brutal battering of women’s buttocks, rape and sexual abuse.
Demand the immediate disbanding of the militias, comprised of youths, security agents and one terror group code named Chipangano, which have caused terror and havoc in the rural and urban areas exacerbating the humanitarian situation by creating internal refugees. We demand the disbanding of torture bases where gross abuses of women are taking place including forced labor (cooking and cleaning) and sexual abuse.
Request the Leadership of SADC, the African Union and the United Nations to demand ZANU PF government to stop using violence against its people and TAKE TANGIBLE actions if the violence continues.
Request especially the Human Rights Council to:
I. Establish programme of engagement with Zimbabwe for protection of human rights especially for women, girls and children. The UN must deploy human rights monitors during the run-up to the Presidential Elections.
II. Mandate and support UN Special Rapportuer on Violence Against Women must do a fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe and support the efforts of community, grassroots and other organisations living in a culture of fear, survivors of violence and abuse.
III. Mandate and support UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders must put in place ways of ensuring safety and protection for women human rights advocates and activists, who find themselves in fear of life and who ability to engage publicly is compromised.
IV. Engage with Zimbabwe government and authorities and stop the violence, and demand the state to protect ordinary people’s lives.
V. Encourage and support for humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe, especially in support of food, health and education for rural communities and mostly the displaced.
Organizations and Individuals are encouraged to sign on this statement, and submit to coalition@zol.co.zw (Zimbabwe Women’s Coalition) or worldoffice@worldywca.org; or athenainitiative@gmail.com or dakotareed07@gmail.com
Human Rights Council, June 2008 Session
Geneva, Switzerland
30 May 2008
We, the Zimbabwean women and women worldwide, urgently call for stopping of violence in Zimbabwe and protection of women and girls, in this post election catastrophe. This is an emergency as the country gears up for a presidential run-off on the 27th of June 2008.The violence persists and is real. No election observers are yet in the country, despite our calls, appeals, cries to Southern Africa Development Community (SADC), African Union (AU) and the United Nations.
We are watching a silent genocide of the poor and powerless, due to political induced murders, criminal actions, and collapse of basic services resulting in deaths due to lack of health care, food, shelter for the displaced, especially after the March 29th, 2008 elections. Most of the affected are women and children.
• The post election murders, burnings, lootings and intimidation have most affected women and girls since its rural targeted and 80% of women live in rural areas.
• Over 800 homes have been burnt down, making it traumatic for mothers who have to feed the children and care for the sick
• Over 10 000 people have fled their homes, are displaced and squatters with relatives and with fear of going back home. Children displaced are not in schools
• Over 50 people have been murdered in cold blood, and mostly from the opposition.
• An estimated 7000 teachers have fled their schools as a number have been beaten in the eyes of parents and pupils.
• Doctors for human Rights report that over 2000 serious cases of physical torture and beatings have passed through their hands and a lot of those they treated have suffered serious fractures to an extent that most are permanently handicapped.
• The oldest victim of the post election violence is an old woman with 12 grandchildren all of them orphaned and whose son is alleged to have campaigned for the opposition.
• The youngest female victim is a 15-year-old girl who was stripped naked together with her pregnant mother forced to lie down and beaten on the breasts and buttocks, just many women have been so battered.
• Several girls and women are feared raped. The youngest child seriously assaulted is only 3 years.
• More than 3,000 Zimbabweans die every weak due to AIDS, and their life expectancy is 34 years for women.
• Unemployment is 80% and inflation is 165 000 % and the highest in the world.
• 95% of women of the 200 000 women made homeless and jobless by the government 2005 Operation Murambatsviina. Women’s church gatherings disrupted, women beaten up and abused while at prayer.
• Over 3 million Zimbabweans are in South Africa where they are facing xenophobic attacks
This situation is an extra-ordinary emergency for women and girls. Every person and institution must do everything in their power to stop the violence, restore rule of law, and allow Zimbabweans to exercise their right to vote and live in peace.
We, as Zimbabwean women and women worldwide:
Re-iterate the long-standing position of Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) that the failure by government and law enforcement, such as police and army to respect the rights of all citizens is the greatest threat to peace, democracy and development in Zimbabwe.
Really concerned by a real danger of civil strife catalyzed by the growing humanitarian crisis. We are witnessing increasing levels of tension and political polarization among the population, which turned out to vote on March 29. The media reports on the party political position adopted by the law enforcement, which should ordinarily maintain neutrality. The recent purchase of military weapons adds to this fear.
Demand cessation of organized and targeted intimidation against the citizens, particularly the use of women and girls as weapons of ‘war’, evidenced by the brutal battering of women’s buttocks, rape and sexual abuse.
Demand the immediate disbanding of the militias, comprised of youths, security agents and one terror group code named Chipangano, which have caused terror and havoc in the rural and urban areas exacerbating the humanitarian situation by creating internal refugees. We demand the disbanding of torture bases where gross abuses of women are taking place including forced labor (cooking and cleaning) and sexual abuse.
Request the Leadership of SADC, the African Union and the United Nations to demand ZANU PF government to stop using violence against its people and TAKE TANGIBLE actions if the violence continues.
Request especially the Human Rights Council to:
I. Establish programme of engagement with Zimbabwe for protection of human rights especially for women, girls and children. The UN must deploy human rights monitors during the run-up to the Presidential Elections.
II. Mandate and support UN Special Rapportuer on Violence Against Women must do a fact-finding mission to Zimbabwe and support the efforts of community, grassroots and other organisations living in a culture of fear, survivors of violence and abuse.
III. Mandate and support UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights Defenders must put in place ways of ensuring safety and protection for women human rights advocates and activists, who find themselves in fear of life and who ability to engage publicly is compromised.
IV. Engage with Zimbabwe government and authorities and stop the violence, and demand the state to protect ordinary people’s lives.
V. Encourage and support for humanitarian assistance to Zimbabwe, especially in support of food, health and education for rural communities and mostly the displaced.
Organizations and Individuals are encouraged to sign on this statement, and submit to coalition@zol.co.zw (Zimbabwe Women’s Coalition) or worldoffice@worldywca.org; or athenainitiative@gmail.com or dakotareed07@gmail.com
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