Zimbabwe brutality

April 5, 2007

The Inkatha Freedom Party is alarmed that the brutal murder of Zimbabwean journalist Mr Edward Chikombo and the torture of another, Mr Gift Phiri, is not deemed to be headline news in South Africa.

We ask how "quiet diplomacy" and the quest for free and fair elections in Zimbabwe can possibility be a dream let alone a reality when its journalists are being constantly attacked and now murdered and tortured.

These actions are an outrage and deserve the full glare of State and media attention throughout South Africa and in all signatory countries to the African Union. SADC leaders, for instance, should immediately respond to this assault on human rights which in many ways makes a mockery of their recent closed door attempts to deal with the crisis in Zimbabwe. I intend to raise this issue for debate at the next plenary session of the Pan African Parliament in May.

Various reports claim that Mr Chikombo, a freelance journalist, was suspected of having secretly filmed government atrocities for foreign TV networks. He was also suspected of having links to Zimbabwe's opposition Movement for Democratic Change (MDC). Mr Phiri was detained by police last Sunday and his lawyer, Mr Rangu Nyamurundira, is reported to have said that his client had been tortured "for hours" by four policemen including a chief superintendent.

It must be noted that Zimbabwe does not have a free press and most foreign journalists are banned from working there. Independent TV networks are banned. All journalists have to be "accredited" (approved) by the State.

In essence, journalists in Zimbabwe work in a dictatorship.

Therefore, it is obvious that whomsoever filmed the images of the recent brutal beatings of the leadership of the MDC, which were then shown around the world, did so at great personal risk.

It is now being said that Mr Chikombo was believed to have filmed the images of MDC leader Mr Morgan Tsvangirai appearing in court and later in hospital with head wounds and also filmed other MDC leaders being assaulted by police.

Witnesses claim that Mr Chikombo was abducted from his home in Harare last week by armed men driving a silver pick-up truck. His body was discovered several days later near Lake Chivero outside Harare.

This brutality being openly perpetrated in Zimbabwe must be stopped and its leadership must be held personally accountable for these atrocities.

REF: PAGE 13, CAPE ARGUS: Wednesday April 4, 2007 ENDS STATEMENT

FOR FURTHER INFORMATION CONTACT:

Ms Suzanne Vos MP: 083 303 0451

Noleen Hendricks: 082 886 9848