Disappearance of Jestina Mukoko and 16 others in Zimbabwe

Aim for human rights is concerned for the recent disappearances of many human rights defenders in Zimbabwe. Jestina Mukoko, director of the organisation Zimbabwe Peace Project, which works on the recollection and documentation of human rights abuses across the country, has been made disappeared from her home early in the morning last Wednesday 3rd of December.

According to local sources, the civic leader and former television personality was kidnapped in a pre-dawn raid at her Norton home by a group of 15 armed men who identified themselves as from the police Law and Order section. She was taken away still wearing her nightdress and was not allowed to get her shoes or spectacles.  Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights in Harare have been searching for Mukoko in various police stations, but they have not found her.

The urgent High court application that was supposed to compel the state security agents to disclose her whereabouts did not take place on Friday as three judges refused to sit on the case, saying that it was too sensitive. It is supposed to take place today. 

There are 16 others, all MDC (Movement for Democratic Change) activists, including a two year old, who were abducted over a month ago and have since not been found in spite of a High Court order.

The organisation Zimbabwe Exiles Forum learned this morning that two co-workers of Jestina were abducted from their office in Harare.

Beatings and arrests of members of pressure groups such as the Women of Zimbabwe Arise, the National Constitutional Assembly and the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union are rampant. 

Civil society begun talking about  transitional justice in Zimbabwe as far back as 2003, in September, with the agreement, there was hope that the transitional period had finally arrived but these hopes were quickly dashed,  this latest abduction dashes the hopes further.

Aim for human rights calls for continued support for these organisations and individuals fighting for democracy a new era for Zimbabwe.