The Disappearance of Itai Dzamara
Just after we in the MDC had inflicted the first electoral defeat on Zanu PF in the Referendum in 2000, we went straight into the elections for Parliament. We were a motley collection of activists, Trade Union organizers, farmers and ordinary people. I remember well, two young people who were typical of the people flocking to our banner in an effort to unseat what had become a totalitarian regime. They included a pretty young girl, Talent Mabika and her close friend Tichaona Chiminya.
On the 14th of April that year they were out in the rural areas in a pickup truck campaigning for our candidates in the Buhera North District. Out of the blue they were approached by a man whom we later identified as a member of the Central Intelligence Organisation (CIO). Joseph Mwale was well prepared and poured petrol over the vehicle and set it alight. They did not die immediately and managed to get out of the vehicle, but both died of their burns.
In the subsequent elections we lost by a mere three seats and in the process triggered a savage campaign against us that has continued to this day. We tracked Mwale, he was promoted, moved around the country and eventually we got the case into the Courts which found that he had a case to answer and ruled that he should be brought to trial – that was 15 years and four months ago and he still has not faced justice. He must not ever think that we have forgotten what he did or who he is and one day we will see justice, even if it takes us much more time.
Since then hundreds of people have faced the same savage retribution that Talent and Tich faced in 2000. We always have people in Prison on one pretext or another, the Police and the Courts are used as a political weapon against the forces of democracy in Zimbabwe. But it is the secret war that the regime has fought against us that has been most difficult to deal with or to manage.
There are three main agencies – the CIO is the best known but they also have a Police Intelligence Organisation they aptly call Pise – the same word as is used to describe a hyena. Then there is a military intelligence organisation. All are used as instruments for what we might call “the dirty war against the democrats”.