HARARE - 21 April 2008 - 450 words
More eyewitness accounts from Zimbabwe
One correspondent in Harare writes:
Please publish the latest report from
ZADHR (Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights). The
people as reported here are of course only those who manage to
reach the private Hospital which takes some of the victims of
violence many others languish untreated in the countryside.
There is now a de facto curfew in the townships. Anyone
seen outside after dark is beaten. The army are patrolling the
streets.
In the Anglican Cathedral (St Mary's in Harare, now occupied by
Mugabe approved 'Archbishop' Nolbert Kunonga and various hired
thugs) doors remain locked, opened only for a 7am empty English
Service and for the main 9am Shona Service attended by 60-80 people.
I saw my dear friend who looks after the car park his week. He
was supervising an empty space sitting in his usual place reading
his bible. He gave me a hug and said he was fine. I also saw the
elderly white lady with her bicycle who feeds the birds in the
cloisters. It was business as usual for both of them.
Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights issued the
following statement:
ZADHR issued a statement on 15 April concerning
157 cases of organised violence and torture (OVT) documented by
members of the Association. As of end of day on 17 April this
total had reached 242. 42 cases were seen and treated on 17 April
alone; six of these were women, one a boy of 12. Of the 42, 19
of the incidents occurred in Mashonaland East (Murehewa, Mutoko,
Mudzi and Maramba) and a further 19 in or near Harare (Dzivarasekwa,
Kuwadzana, Tafara, Budiriro, Glen Norah, Epworth and Chitungwiza).
Most of these cases continue to be of soft tissue injury, especially
of the buttocks but often in other parts of the body including
the breast of women. The extreme force of the injuries is demonstrated
by the common occurrence of superficial blistering and deep, sometimes
extensive, haematoma formation. Haematomas are substantive collections
of whole blood, as distinct from simple bruising which is blood
in amongst other tissues.
In 15 of the cases of soft tissue injury, there were documented
tram tracks on the overlying skin. This is a classic sign
of assault with a hard thin object such as a stick or baton. Three
more cases had fractures of the forearm or hand (right ulna, left
radius and ulna, two left metacarpals). The patient with fractured
right ulna also sustained fractures of ribs on the left side of
his chest associated with left haemothorax (blood in the space
between the lungs and the chest wall).
There have been reports of several deaths but because these do
not usually present to ZADHR members, only one case (of multiple
stab wounds to the chest and abdomen) can be confirmed. This was
a brother of a patient from Karoi, previously reported as having
been admitted to hospital in Harare.
ZADHR remains deeply concerned that no measures are being taken
by the authorities to prevent further violence and by allegations
that security forces are now increasingly involved in assaults
and torture, particularly in Harare.
These cases suggest a disturbing trend of systematic violent assault
and torture, and with more victims possibly unable to access medical
attention in rural areas, urgent action is required to prevent
the situation deteriorating further. It is essential that the
United Nations, African Union and SADC take urgent and decisive
steps to engage the Zimbabwean authorities and all stakeholders
to end this crisis.
ZADHR reiterates its call for an end to violence by all political
parties and security forces.
Further reports: Zanu PF media say that two policemen have been arrested for failing to add a box containing 5000 votes for Mugabe at a local result.
ANGLICAN-INFORMATION observes that:
The Mugabe regime (post election defeat) policy now seems clear
- it is as follows:
Soften up population by systematic violence, beatings and threats.
Call a recount in 23 electoral districts (22 of which were won
by the opposition MDC party) recount
and declare that Zanu-PF has not after all lost the election.
This 'recount' has started on 19 April.
Once a parliamentary majority is re-established release the 'massaged'
presidential results and call for a run-off.
'Win' the re-run presidential election by paying close attention
to getting the right result.
Reinstate the 'victor' President Mugabe.
Business as usual for the privileged ruling elite
In the meantime last week the Chinese cargo ship the An Yue Jiang
docked at Durban in South Africa. It contains 77 tonnes of small
arms, 3 million rounds of ammunition, AK47 assault rifles, mortars
and rocket-propelled grenades all destined for Zimbabwe.
The Mbeki government declared that the cargo may legally pass
to the Mugabe regime (there is no crisis) .... heroically South
African dockers refused to unload the ship because the cargo is
clearly destined for use against the Zimbabwean people. (At the
time of this update the ship was reported to be on its way to
Angola).
A deafening silence has been emitted from
a number of quarters about this appalling state of affairs, not
least from the House of Bishops, Anglican Province of Central
Africa. Bishop Sebastian Bakare struggling in the front line to
regain the Anglican Diocese of Harare from the clutches of Nolbert
Kunonga being a brave exception.
© Independent Catholic News 2008
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