The murder of Mary Austen

How the elderly wife of one of Zimbabwe's last White farmers met her death

Mary Austen, a 74-year-old British-born woman, has been found dead on the farm which she and her husband ran near the Midlands town of Kwekwe. Her body was discovered in the couple's garden, and a doctor who performed a post mortem reported that she died from multiple head injuries.

Her husband was found in the couple's house. He too had been attacked with ferocity, but he was still alive, and is now under medical care at a private facility in Harare.

He has told his doctors that their home was attacked by ten men last week. He knew none of them by sight, but assumed that they were so-called Freedom Fighters. He said they came at night and ordered both husband and wife into the garden.

My source within the government spy agency, the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO), told me that the couple tried to reason with the men but were ignored. "They began attacking them with pick handles and sticks, and both collapsed to the ground. Mrs. Austen died on the spot, and Mr. Austen was left for dead," the source said.

One of those who found the couple told me: "It was a gruesome sight. Mrs. Austen was lying face down, her clothes were torn, and she was covered in clotted blood."

There seems to be no clear motive for the attack. Local villagers described the Austens as "a very understanding and kind hearted couple", who apparently grew large amounts of vegetables which they gave, along with other help, to those in need.

Mrs. Austen's death was not the only tbrutal murder in the country this week. In the rural Mashonaland district of Murehwa, villagers have discovered the mutilated and decomposing body of an opposition MDC councillor, Alloys Chandisarewa Sanyangore.

Mr. Sanyangore was abdudcted from his home at midnight early in November. It is understood that he had been strangled. He leaves a wife and six children.

Fears also continue to grow for the abducted human rights activist Jestina Mukoko, who, as I previously reported, was taken from her home barefoot and wearing only pyjamas.

This is life, and death, in Zimbabwe today.

Comments

[RMacleod]

It can only be assumed that without any other evidence the murder of Jane Austen was committed on behalf of a Zanu PF politician who wants to take over the farm. Also it may have been feared by ZanuPF they were getting a bit too popular with the locals.

The murder of Mr Chandisarewa Sanyangore and the abduction and possible murder of Mrs Jestina Mukoko is of course, political.

All these victims can be considered brave people, but what has happened to them is only a repeat performance and will occur many times in the future until Mugabe and his cronies are finally destroyed.

[RMacleod]

It can only be assumed that without any other evidence the murder of Jane Austen was committed on behalf of a Zanu PF politician who wants to take over the farm. Also it may have been feared by ZanuPF they were getting a bit too popular with the locals.

The murder of Mr Chandisarewa Sanyangore and the abduction and possible murder of Mrs Jestina Mukoko is of course, political.

All these victims can be considered brave people, but what has happened to them is only a repeat performance and will occur many times in the future until Mugabe and his cronies are finally destroyed.

[Carlmadzi]

They are killing all the people who matter in the struggle for regime change in Zimbabwe.With CHOLERA possing the greatest threat to ZANU-PF,it will try every method possible, to cow the masses from rioting against the illegitimate government.Even some staunche Zanu-PF supporters are beginning to see that Zanu-PF is not good for Zimbabwe.ZANU-PF should go now,but how?May be cholera will will do the job.

[Brian Hurungwe]

The information communicated about Sanyangore posted here is grossly incorrect.

Sanyangore was not abducted at all in November. In actually fact, he was KILLED in cold blood right at his home.

You can also ghet the full details of what heppened here at: http://www.zimeye.org/?p=379

Please do not mis-inform the public like this!