- Dear Family and Friends,
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- A tragic event involving a 15 year old schoolboy and
a fatal stabbing in a church, has sent shivers down my spine. It should
be ringing alarm bells both in and outside Zimbabwe because this, more
than any diplomatically worded political speech, demonstrates just how
tired Zimbabweans are of waiting for accountability and justice.
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- The news came in a transcript from a Voice of the People
Radio report. A 15 year old schoolboy was attending a service in the Zion
Christian Church in Village 2 near Neshuro Growth Point in the Mwenezi
District. At some point in the service Nhamo Machacha, described as a "well
known Zanu PF terror master," and aide to the Zanu PF MP for Mwenezi
East, interrupted the church proceedings. The teenage boy got up and stabbed
Machacha twice in the stomach. Despite being rushed to Neshuro hospital,
Machacha died from excessive bleeding.
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- In the radio transcript an eyewitness explained the history
behind the behaviour of the 15 year old boy:
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- "That boy's father Lameck Muripo was killed by Zanu
(PF) thugs in 2008.
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- Their home was burnt and they were left homeless but
the children were still
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- young. However, up to now the culprits including the
now deceased were
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- walking free and this boy said he wanted to revenge,"
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- The 15 year old school boy was taken into Police custody
and the Zanu PF MP for Mwenezi East, Kudakwashe Bhasikiti, responded to
the killing of his aide by saying:
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- ""There is nothing to hide here. MDC is a party
of violence, they need
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- violence and they have provoked us today. How can I keep
silent when they
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- slapped us in the face like this? They have started it
and they must not cry tomorrow."
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- An amazing statement from a Member of Parliament.
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- For ten years the murderers, torturers and rapists spawned
during a decade of violent elections have been walking amongst us. For
ten years reports have been made to authorities but perpetrators have not
been arrested, tried or convicted. Everyone knows who the perpetrators
of the crimes are. There are witnesses, affidavits and documented reports
and yet still nothing is done.
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- Writing to commemorate the 10th anniversary of the murders
of Prime Minister Tsvangirai's election agent Tichaona Chiminya and activist
Talent Mabika, the MDC are also demanding that justice be done. The men
named in those killings continue to walk free, one even still in state
employment.
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- There are thousands of similar cases and thousands of
victims still waiting for justice in cities, towns and remote rural villages.
It is a ticking time bomb which apparently left a 15 year old schoolboy
unable to wait a day longer. A time bomb which should have everyone shouting
out for accountability, including MP's.
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- Until next time, thanks for reading,
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- love, cathy
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- Copyright Cathy Buckle 1st May 2010. www.cathybuckle.com
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- For information or orders of my new book: "INNOCENT
VICTIMS" or previous books "African Tears" and "Beyond
Tears," or to subscribe/unsubscribe to this newsletter, please write
to:
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