Death of a very brave lady

Mugabe's official thugs claim the life of a true Zimbabwean heroine

Yesterday - Sunday, November 11 - we buried Maria Moyo (right). A thousand people came to her graveside at Bulawayo's Hyde Park Cemetery, to mourn the death of a gallant woman who stood up against the appalling injustice of our country's government, and paid the ultimate price for her courage.

Mrs. Moyo was one of the founders of Women Of Zimbabwe Arise (WOZA), in 2003. Together with her fellow leaders Jenni Williams and Magodonga Mahlangu, she lead peaceful marches and demonstrations against human rights abuses. She demanded respect for women. She asked for justice. In Zimbabwe she asked for too much.

In the short four years of WOZA, she was arrested ten times. Each time she was physically and mentally abused by the police. The last arrest came on August 24. It resulted in her death. No doubt the police consider this a positive outcome. This is what happened.

Six members of the police Law and Order section, the department usually responsible for the torture of oppostive activists, burst into her home in Mabuthweni suburb in Bulawayo at mid-day. They found Mrs. Moyo in bed, seriously ill with pneumonia, the result of her previous ill-treatment at the hands of the authorities.

Her family pleaded with the police not to take her away, saying she was too ill to be moved, but they refused to listen. She was arrested, dragged outside, and put in a police vehicle along with four other women, all members of WOZA.

They were taken to Khami dam on the outskirts of the city, where for five hours they were interrogated, abused and tortured. At one point they were tied up with ropes, and told they would be dumped in the sewage-polluted waters of the dam. Only a party of passers-by, including a photographer, prevented the threat from becoming a reality.

By this time Mrs. Moyo's condition was clearly deteriorating. It is thought that the police didn't want her to die while in custody. They drove her back to her home, and left her there. Her family took her to hospital, where her condition slowly worsened. She died on November 6.

At the funeral, her co-leader Magodonga Mahlangu said this: "I would like it to be known that the police are responsible for her death... She will be remembered for her ready smile even in harsh jail conditions. She will be remembered for her courage and comitment. May her soul rest in peace in a better place than the living hell of Zimbabwe."

Maria Moyo was 57. She leaves a husband, nine children, and 12 grandchildren. And she leaves us all, much the poorer for her loss.

Comments

[Uncle B]

Surely for how long are the people of Zimbabwe going to fold their arms and watch a cornered regime brutalize and murder innocent citizens whose only crime is to demand justice and accountability? CRY THE BELOVED COUNTRY!

[Keith Plow]

I am ashamed and embarrassed at the lack of support of The United Nations,European Economic Community and most of all The British Government. The money has been made out of Zimbabwe, and there is no comittment to any responsibility following.
At least modern technology has given us the communications to ensure The World is aware, and it's only a question of time, unfortunately it's already run out for many but there are still many to be saved.
It's a sad day for humanity, and unfortunately it will not be the last!!!
Let's start caring and sharing, particularly for those in need?

[David R. Filbey-Haywood]

The Western World seems to act on political or economic expediency only as far as the third world is concerned. Hailie Selassie was abandoned in his time of need, The Shah of Iran was abandoned in the same way and now it seems that the people of Zimbabwe are also being abandoned. The only solution ? The Opposition just needs to find in Zimbabwe some oil, diamonds or other scarce, raw material useful to the Western World. Then watch the Western World suddenly become interested in their plight ! - Poor People of Zimbabwe, my heart aches for you all !!

[Pet Frith]

what a tragedy that there is no show of international support for a country suffering such outrageous human rights abuse.

Mugabe deserves a dose of his own 'medicine'.God bless Mrs. Moya.