The Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition yesterday launched a book chronicling torture in Zimbabwe over the last few years at a function attended by Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, members of civic society and the diplomatic corps.

The afternoon launch held at the book Café became emotional when Rutendo Munengami, a victim of violence in June 2003, recounted how more than ten armed men dressed in army uniforms, broke into her house and demanded to see her husband- then a councillor for ward 30 in Glenview (He is now the MP for Glenview North).

Her husband was not home then. One of her assailants lifted up a gift which her husband had brought for her from Germany and asked her if he was good in bed. He then proceeded to lift her nightdress and rape her in front of her nine month old son.

There were food packs in her house which were meant for Movement for Democratic Change (MDC) supporters and her assailants demanded to know what the supplies were doing there before beating her up with baton sticks and gun butts all over her body.

Behind her, as she spoke, the Prime Minister covered his eyes with his hand.

Morgan Tsvangirai and Crisis Coalition chairperson Jonah Gokova chat at the launch.

Munengami’s account, and those of twenty-two other victims of torture, make up the basis of the 83-paged report which is titled Cries from Gomomonzi- Inside Zimbabwe’s Torture Chambers.

Speaking at the event, Prime Minister Morgan Tsvangirai, himself a victim of politically motivated torture, said that it was very difficult to attend an occasion such as the launch and not feel the cries of the victims. “How do you confront a regime which does not seem to lose anything by confrontation?” he asked those present. “The fact that we are here today is evidence,” he went on, “that they failed to silence us, and although we have not reached our true democratic destination, we will never stop marching towards the Zimbabwe that the people demand and deserve.”

- The Zimbo Jam

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Maita  - Thank You   |2010-03-12 09:08:57 I would like to say on behalf of all the voices that are still blocked by fear, all the lives that are still threatened and all those who find torture and the use of it to be repugnant but have not spoken out; Thank you Mrs Munengami and those who have been brave enough to register what we all felt and feel. I would like to tell you that justice will come and soon! Reply 0   0

Ropafadzo M  - Trauma   |2010-03-15 07:37:08 I feel for the women who were raped during this period and without national healing, Zimbabwe cannot progress with a bitter population. A "TRC" is needed urgently to address these matters to allow healing. I met many of such victim,s and i still am traumatised by the events. It is unbelievable that such incidents took place in independent Zimbabwe. It is just unbelievable. What of HIV infection????God help us Reply 0   0

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