Six days after Jestina Mukoko was abducted from her home, she is still missing. This morning, two of her colleagues were also abducted from the ZPP’s Harare offices. Just days before her abduction, in remarks to the Women’s Coalition to mark the 16 Days of Activism, Jestina discussed the horrors experienced by many Zimbabwean women during political violence this year.

We got this email recently from Tonderai X – who took the photograph of Jestina Mukoko we put on our blog last week.

To: Government of Zimbabwe
Heads of SADC
Those who think they are men

Not-So-Dear-Anymore Sirs

As a son of Zimbabwe, I am appalled that one of my mothers, Jestina Mukoko, was taken from her house without her permission.

She was almost naked and is a woman who is in need of medical care on a regular basis.

The cowards who took her had to come as a mob – as did the soldiers for Jesus. Her little child watched in horror as this happened to her. My question to you men of the government and of SADC is this: Are there no real men among you? Will not one stand up for Jestina and other abducted Zimbabweans? Will not a single one of you say that enough is enough?

Martin Luther once said: “In the End, we will remember not the words of our enemies, but the silence of our friends.” That silence from our “friends” is painful. Too too painful to bear.

I am a son of Zimbabwe. Will you please free my mother.
Tonderai X

Zimbabwean human rights activist Jestina Mukoko was abducted from her home in Norton, outside Harare, around 5am on Wednesday 3 December. Reports indicate that a group of at least 12 men in two unmarked vehicles came to her house. She was taken by force still barefoot and in her pyjamas. More than 24 hours later, there is still no sign of Mukoko, nor any indication of her whereabouts or who might have abducted her.

Amnesty International issued an alert yesterday, demanding that Zimbabwean authorities guarantee Mukoko’s safety. Mukoko is the director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project (ZPP), a local human rights organisation that monitors and documents human rights violations.

Phone the Norton Police station and demand that they investigate Jestina’s disappearance: +263 (0)62 2120. Be persistent! It can be hard to get through.