A Report From The Front Lines In Zimbabwe

Original Message -----
From: "Hans" <acacia@africaonline.co.zw>
To: <"Undisclosed-Recipient:;"@smtp.africaonline.co.zw>
Sent: Monday, April 14, 2008 6:46 AM
Subject: Hunting us down


>
> ----- Original Message -----
> From: "Cathy Buckle" <cbuckle@mango.zw>
> To: "African Tears" <cbuckle@mango.zw>
> Sent: Sunday, April 13, 2008 3:05 PM
> Subject: Hunting us down
>
>
> > Dear Family and Friends,
> > I received a call early one morning this week from a friend in a small
> > country
> > town. Speaking quickly and quietly for fear of being overheard, he told
me
> > of
> > the frightening events that were going on all around him. Eight double
cab
> > vehicles had arrived in the town. Armed men in civilian clothes
alighted.
> > They
> > had lists of names of people who had been involved in the election
> > campaign for
> > the opposition MDC in the area.
> > "They are hunting us down," he said. "Each and every one of us is being
> > sought
> > out, beaten and punished for
> > supporting the MDC."
> > Some have had their homes burnt down, large numbers of people have been
> > beaten
> > and a local opposition organizer said :" it is terrible, there are
injured
> > people everywhere."
> >
> > Later another call came, this time the story was of events on one of the
> > few
> > remaining commercial farms. Again the eye witness account was of armed
> > men.
> > There were youths too, many scores of them and they were clearly high on
> > drugs
> > and drink. The drumming, singing, shouting and intimidation carried only
> > one
> > message: there will be no change in Zimbabwe.
> >
> > Scores of stories like this are coming in from all over the country.
Armed
> > men,
> > drugged youths, lists of opposition supporters and activists, and a wave
> > of fear
> > sweeping over our country. None are being spared : men, women, children.
> > Beating, burning, threatening and intimidating is the result of the
brave
> > voices
> > of Zimbabweans across the country who voted for change.
> >
> > While this goes on the economic and domestic situation for families
> > everywhere
> > has reached absolutely critical levels. In the fortnight since the
> > elections
> > food supplies in the shops have dropped to almost nothing. One major
> > supermarket
> > in my home town this weekend had lines and lines of scouring powder but
no
> > basics at all - no rice, pasta, flour, cereals, tin, jars or in fact
> > anything
> > edible.  All fresh produce from milk and eggs to vegetables and meat has
> > become
> > virtually unobtainable as thugs and mobs close down farms, terrify
workers
> > and
> > rob the nations shelves of the last few mouthfuls of food. A friend who
> > helps
> > feed children whose parents have died of AIDS, waited for almost 5 hours
> > at the
> > local Grain Marketing Board Depot while every single bag of the precious
> > staple
> > grain was loaded onto army trucks. She left empty handed and had also
> > failed to
> > find any beans, fish or even soya to buy for vulnerable children hungry
> > and
> > alone.
> >
> > The reaction of our neighbours to the terror and tragedy unravelling
> > Zimbabwe
> > is beyond all understanding. South African president Thabo Mbeki emerged
> > from an
> > hour long meeting with Mr Mugabe saying: "There is no crisis in
Zimbabwe."
> > Fourteen African heads of state met for 12 hours in Zambia and emerged
> > saying:
> > "election results must be released expeditiously."
> >
> > Of course we don't know what went on behind closed doors but it seems
like
> > quiet diplomacy has again been the convenient smoke screen for Africa's
> > Big Men.
> > It is no comfort whatsoever to us mums who can't find enough food for
our
> > families. It is no comfort to frightened men whispering on crackly
>> telephone
> > lines about men with guns on an opposition witch hunt. It is no comfort
to
> > farmers trying to grow food but faced with  drugged,
> > drunken youths who want what they've got.
> >
> > Zimbabweans voted for change a fortnight ago, the MDC announced that it
> > had
> > been achieved but day by day that change is being painfully, brutally
> > stripped
> > away.
> > Until next week, love cathy.Copyright cathy buckle 13th April 2008.
> > www.cathybuckle.com
> > My books: "African Tears" and "Beyond Tears" are available in South
Africa
> > from: books@clarkesbooks.co.za  and in the UK from:
> > orders@africabookcentre.com
> > To subscribe/unsubscribe to this newsletter, please write to:
> > cbuckle@mango.zw
> >
>

Tags: Zimbabwe Election Crisis