In the last few months the people of Zimbabwe have suffered a dramatic increase in violence and harassment perpetrated by ZANU PF against those seen as supportive of the MDC. The trouble escalated when President Mugabe announced his desire to hold elections in the coming months, sparking fears of a brutal and orchestrated campaign, similar to the one during the elections in 2008 which saw thousands of people raped, beaten and tortured.
Every day all over Zimbabwe more and more stories are emerging of violence and harassment. Members of Women of Zimbabwe Arise have been arrested and beaten for protesting and trade unionists and civil society activists are regularly arrested for holding an ‘illegal’ meeting. In Harare political activists have been arrested and beaten by the police whilst seeking refuge from the ZANU PF militia hunting them down, street vendors have been beaten for reading the wrong type of newspaper and a Church was tear gassed as those inside prayed for peace. In rural areas as militias have returned to their camps, stories of rape being used to destroy the lives of those suspected of supporting ZANU PF are being told again.
We need to send a strong message to the Zimbabwean Government that the brutal and orchestrated campaign of rape and violence that happened in 2008 cannot be allowed to happen again. We also need to show the brave student and trade unionists and political and civil society activists that we stand in solidarity with them and support their struggle for democracy, rights and justice.
Take action
On 27th June Action for Southern Africa (ACTSA) will be presenting hundreds of message tags, attached to bunches of roses, calling for the violence to stop, to the Zimbabwean Embassy in London.
You can fill in your own tag here or better still email ACTSA campaigns@actsa.org and get a load sent to you, so you can promote the action on campus.