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Lawyers demand Mukoko’s
release
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights (ZLHR) together with other
human rights defenders took to the streets in Harare on 10 December
2008 demanding the immediate release of abducted Zimbabwe Peace
Project (ZPP) Director Jestina Mukoko whose whereabouts remain
unknown since 3 December 2008.
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The lawyers marched through the streets of Harare
carrying placards and a banner that read: Enforced disappearances=
crime against humanity. Jestina Mukoko a woman of peace, witness
against injustice. Where is she, help her safe return. Another
placard said: No to Abductions. The marches coincided with commemorations
to mark International Human Rights Day.
French Ambassador to Zimbabwe Laurent Contini and Xavier Marchal,
head of the EU Delegation in Zimbabwe, also expressed concern
on Mukoko’s circumstances during celebrations to mark the
60th Anniversary of the Declaration of Human Rights Day held
in Harare. Two of her colleagues Pascal Gonzo and Brodrick Takawira,
were also reportedly abducted from the ZPP offices in Harare
on 8 December 2008 and have also not been seen since.
The procession commenced from the new government complex along
4th Street/Samora Machel Avenue and then proceeded to the situate
of t he Human Rights Tree in the Harare Gardens where representatives
of the ZLHR lamented the deplorable human rights situation in
Zimbabwe, economic meltdown and repression of the fundamental
right to freedom of expression as evidenced by the abduction
of Mukoko who is also a former television newsreader with the
Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation.
The lawyers then proceeded to Parliament Building and the Supreme
Court where they delivered petitions on the abduction of Mukoko
and the human rights situation in Zimbabwe.
Background
On 9 December 2008 High Court Judge Justice Anne-Marie Gowora
ordered the police to search for Mukoko following an urgent application
filed by the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights ZLHR) represented
by prominent human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa.
"It is ordered that the Police Commissioner –General
(Augustine Chihuri) dispatch a team of police detectives to work
very closely
and in conjunction with the lawyers appointed by the ZLHR to
search for Jestina Mukoko at all such places as maybe within
their jurisdiction in terms of the Police Act and Constitution
of Zimbabwe and to report progress of such search to the Registrar
of the High by 1000hrs on each day until her whereabouts have
been determined," ordered Justice Gowora.
She also ordered the State to place advertisements in all public
media to ascertain Mukoko’s whereabouts within 12 hours
of the granting of the order. Her lawyers argued that she was
abducted without clothing and medication saying it was crucial
that her whereabouts be determined forthwith.
For more information, please contact:
MISA-Zimbabwe
84 McChlery Drive
Eastlea
Harare
Telefax: +263 4 776165/746838
Mobile:+263 11 602 448
Email: misa@misazim.co.zw
Website: www.misazim.co.zw
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