ZPP director still missing
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.
Saturday, December 6th 2008 at 5:18 am
When I look around at the tragic chaos representing what used to be beautiful Zimbabwe I am humbled by the courageous stand that many Zimbabwean women have taken in the face of violent, deadly and systematic oppression. People like Jestina Mukoko are making huge personal sacrifices for the good of mankind. Jestina is a very gentle person but when cowards come calling in the darkness of the night they come by the dozen. As one woman is dragged away from her home for no crime other than her concern for her suffering people, the dogs war who pounce on her do also have mothers, sisters and wives who choose to keep quiet. Jestina must not be harmed – there is no effort more noble than fighting to protect human rights and ensuring that atrocities are properly documented. You must be doing a good job my sister!
Monday, December 8th 2008 at 5:47 pm
[...] days after Jestina Mukoko was abducted from her home, she is still missing. This morning, two of her colleagues were also abducted from [...]
Thursday, January 1st 2009 at 6:02 pm
[...] and journalist Jestina Mukoko was abducted from her home on Wednesday the 3rd of December at dawn. According to several civil society reports, including the Kubatana blog written by a group of online activists: …a group of at least 12 [...]