SW Radio Africa (London)
Lance Guma
22 May 2008
analysis
Imagine losing your loved one to senseless political violence and then on the day you try to bury them over 300 Zanu PF thugs descend on the cemetery and beat up everyone on site.
On Wednesday that is what happened at Warren Hills cemetery in Harare. Zanu PF mobs armed with stones, knobkerries and machetes attacked mourners at the funeral of murdered MDC activists Godfrey Kauzani and Cain Nyevhe. The bodies of Nyevhe and Kauzani were discovered in Goromonzi on Saturday after they were abducted a week before with Beta Chokururama, who was also killed. All 3 had knife and gunshot wounds.
On Wednesday many people were injured during the raid on mourners and several were admitted to hospital. Human rights lawyer Dhewa Mavhinga who was present at the funeral, said he saw Kauzani's wife trying to flee from the mob with her 4 children, including one who is disabled. Kauzani's father also fled the scene, but tragically the family did not even have bus fare to travel to the relative safety of town. Mavhinga said the issue raised more questions about how civil society groups could help in such situations. He did concede the MDC was overwhelmed administratively by the current crisis.
Several leaders from civil society organizations were present at the funeral, but the MDC leadership was said to be conspicuous by their absence. Sources at the funeral said MDC activists sang songs asking where the leadership was? 'Ko muri kupi Morgan vana tichipera kudai, Ko muripo Morgan (Where are you Morgan when the children are dying like this, where are you Morgan).'
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