Victims of abduction and torture at the hands of alleged state security agents says they will not allow their past experiences to stand in their way of fighting for democracy in Zimbabwe
Opposition activists Joana Mamombe, Cecelia Chimbiri and Netsai Marova were abducted and tortured by suspected state security agents while coming from a demonstration organised by their party youth wing.
They were taken to a secret location where they were tortured and later dumped near Bindura.
“They intend to silence us to stop mobilizing the youths to participate in politics. We will not be stopped by that. We are going to continue speaking truth to power,” Mamombe said.
Despite glaring evidence of the hand of the state, government accused a third force of engineering the abductions to soil the image of Zimbabwe on the international arena.
Mamombe, who is the Harare West legislator said the harassment and torture were meant to stop them from what defending the rights of Zimbabweans.
“Jestina [Mukoko, director for Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP)], Tabitha [Khumalo, MDC Alliance Bulawayo East legislator] Cecelia Chimbiri, Netsai Marova, Maureen Kademaunga [MDC Alliance national executive member], are among thousands of women victims who have suffered as a result of their political association in Zimbabwe.”
Popular comedienne Samantha Kureya was also abducted in the middle of the night and forced to drink her own urine among other inhuman actions she was subjected to by her abductors.
Kureya said the government must be held accountable and her duty is to use political satire to interrogate corruption, abuse of power by political figures.
“I am not scared at all. They can do whatever they want but I am not going to stop satire in our acting,” said Kureya.
Mnangagwa’s government and Zanu PF are afraid of losing power and want to use force and cohesion to intimidate anyone that doesn’t support them said another activist Maureen Kademaunga.
“My cousin sister Tapiwa Munetsi was also victimized only because we are relatives. That’s desperation. A friend of mine who Eunice Venge who was victimized because she is a friend of mine. So this government is capable of doing anything,” Kademaunga said.
While there are witnesses who saw some of these women being abducted, the state has charged them with faking their abductions.
