Zanu PF activists clearly came campaigning in my neighbourhood last night. I came home to find their posters littering the streets. I tore one out of my hedge and crumpled it up with an irritation that was less about the poster itself and more about my outrage with what this regime has done to Zimbabwe.

“This is your era. This is your time. The people must be empowered,” reads the slogan on the poster. Yeah, right. Whose time is it Bob? It’s not WOZA’s time – Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu are still being held at Chikurubi Female Prison – their 21st night in custody rapidly approaching.

It’s not you’re time if you’re poor or hungry or struggling to make ends meet. And it’s even less your time if you’re all of those things and yet still dare to have an opinion of your own. A 12-year old boy from Epworth came to our office yesterday looking for assistance. He is now orphaned – his mother, who had long been in an up and down battle with AIDS, had her legs broken for refusing to go to a Zanu PF rally. In her already weakened condition, and too poor to get medical attention, she didn’t survive the attack. He and his mother were barely eking out a living before. And now?

And it’s certainly not your time if you disagree with the current regime – take these stories from the Lowveld:

Bikita West
The manager of Bikita Minerals, Nigel Macphail and his girl friend Susara Van Greunen were severely assaulted by some 60 ZANU PF militia at there mine offices on the 12th June. It seems that there were two reasons why they were assaulted, the first being that they were MDC supporters and the second reason was because Susara took workers who had been beaten by the same militia the day before to Masvingo Hospita, for treatment of wounds inflicted on them. Nigel had been told that they were not to assist the injured workers. The owners have also been given 10 days to pack up and leave the mine. The Bikita police had prior warning of the impending attacks, but were ordered not respond. The Masvingo Province Governor Mavhaire who is a staunch ZANU PF and is on the Board of Directors of Bikita Minerals also new of the impending attacks but refused to intervene. The mine is situated 80km to the East of Masvingo on the Birchenough Bridge Road.

Bikita East
Some 20 armed militia attacked and burned part of the Mutari Holiday Resort complex on the banks of the Save River. The resort is run by the MDC winning candidate Mr Mililo, the winning MDC councilor for that ward with some employees were severely beaten and a lot of bedding and equipment was stolen Mr Mililo fled to South Africa a week ago when he received death threats from the militia.

Mwenezi West
In the Maranda communal area on the night of the 12th June, two people were bludgeoned to death by militia after being forced to swear allegiance to ZANU PF and 50 others were badly beaten. The police did respond at first but were prevented and threatened by the militia, they have asked for reinforcements so that they can safely investigate this attack.

Mwenezi East
On the night of the 13th June, Chris Muzenda’s house was burned to the ground, he was not there at the time and the report indicated that no one was injured. He was guilty of being an MDC supporter and assisted with the elections on the 29th March.

But of course, it is our time – our time to stand up and say we’ve had enough. Our time to demand something better.

This entry was posted on June 17th, 2008 at 8:33 am by Amanda Atwood and is filed under Elections 2008, Uncategorized. You can follow any responses to this entry through the RSS 2.0 feed. Both comments and pings are currently closed.