"MAKE HIM CRY" !

Dear Family and Friends,

This week the country came to a virtual stand still when we learned that a large number of the top leaders of civic society and opposition groups had been arrested. Everyone, everywhere was talking about it and the world began watching us again. It was then with shock and outrage that we saw the first grisly pictures of men and women covered in blood, bruises and wounds getting off a huge open Police lorry outside the Harare courts two days later. Now the details have begun to emerge and the statements are being made by the victims of how they were brutally assaulted whilst in Police custody. The quotes from those that were involved tell this story better than any letter or newspaper report.

An MDC youth activist, Gift Tandare was shot and killed by the police. A friend went to visit his family and said: "We arrived at their humble little home to find mourners grieving for this senseless and brutal loss. It was heart wrenching and humbling to share their grief."

Hours later two men were shot by Police at the Tandare home where they had gone to pay their respects. The same friend wrote again: "When I arrived at the hospital Dickson was in theatre having an emergency operation and the doctors thought they would have to amputate his foot. Their crime is that they were mourning the senseless killing of their friend."

Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights described the condition of Grace Kwinjehwhen she came out of Police custody saying: "she was brutally assaulted at Machipisa and lost part of her ear after being assaulted with a metal rod."

When Lovemore Madhuku came out of Police custody the Lawyers said: "He has a broken arm in a cast, bandages over his head and a swollen face from assaults suffered at Machipisa."

A husband recounted what had happened to his wife, Sekai, while she was in police custody: "A woman repeatedly jumped on her with booted feet -fracturing or breaking three of her ribs. Her clothes were covered in blood- both her own and that of others suffering the same brutality." Sekai also had a broken arm, broken leg and cracked knee.

One of Morgan Tsvangirai's bodyguards described what he saw of the assault on the leader of the opposition: "They were beating him and he collapsed. They were going for his head. He didn't scream or shout, he was silent as they beat him, and it made them so angry, they were shouting, - 'we must make him cry'." Throughout the week criticism, condemnation and concern has poured in from around the world. Voices everywhere are raised in outrage and here in Zimbabwe there is a feeling of extreme tension. These are very dark days indeed.

Until next week, with love, cathy

Copyright cathy buckle 17th March2007 http://africantears.netfirms.com My books: "African Tears" and "BeyondTears" are available from: orders@africabookcentre.com