- I have just returned from a meeting in
Borrowdale where the guest speaker was the white 17 year old MDC activist
(MDC opposes Mugabe's ZANU party), Tommy Spicer. Although he addressed
the audience in English, he is well known for his fluency in shona. His
usually happy face was pale and sombre and although he spoke without anger,
his tale had the full attention of the audience.
-
- At the beginning of last week Tommy was
abducted by so-called war veterans and, in front of about 300 people, he
was beaten up and kicked around. A knife was held at his throat and he
was ordered to chant "ZANU PF IS A PEACEFUL PARTY". He could
not bring himself to say something so ridiculous and instead, he fell to
his knees laughing.
-
- Tommy, himself, was subsequently arrested
by the Marondera Police and charged with kidnapping and assault. He spent
6 days inside and was, yesterday, released on bail. Two of Tommy's friends
have recently been murdered by "peaceful" ZANU PF militia -
one beheaded, the other stabbed in his face and body, and his leg partly
removed with an axe. He had just that day read the medical report of a
man whose face had been hacked off. The new law and order in Zimbabwe
means that should you be be kidnapped and assaulted, you yourself will
then be charged with that offence and jailed.
-
- Although lucky to be alive, one can not
help but admire a teenager whose commitment to his country supersedes his
safety and his home comforts. The excuses - "It's not my job",
"I don't want to get involved or "This is Africa", are wearing
thin. This is a unique situation within a unique country, and contrary
to the Government's intention to divide the races, the opposite is happening.
-
- With just 45 days to go, free and fair
elections are becoming less and less possible. SADC leaders are turning
a blind eye, no matter how bizzare or horrific, to the actions of their
'OLD comrade' because they are all birds of the same feather. I have
heard, with my own ears, that "there is nothing illegal about sending
the ZNA to the Congo, politicising the Supreme Court, snatching a man's
farm because he's white, or selective law and order,"..... oh and....
"whites shouldn't vote".
-
- Zimbabweans are aware of the rhetoric
justifying the above crap and there is no place in this sad, frightened
nation for all the little devil's advocates who either have their porky
little fingers in the pie, or who can jump on a helicopter to escape the
heat. Tommy's closing words were aimed at those who have so far not managed
to make some contribution towards change in Zimbabwe. He appealed for funds,
old clothes for victims, medical supplies and food. Surely everyone of
us can do something, however small, in order to lessen the burden on the
few who are working for a peaceful future.
-
- In closing, I would like to express my
admiration to all those, major and minor players, who have played their
part.
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