Life in "Democratic" Zimbabwe: What They Don't Tell You

by Lilla von Elling, Auckland

The Zimbabwean people have watched their beautiful country slowly decay into corruption and chaos. Even so, the core of the despair remains behind closed doors with no hope of the human rights abuses and suffering being exposed.

On May 15 last year, during a parliamentary debate, I pushed Patrick Chinamasa, the minister of justice, to the floor. By that time, I had suffered four years of political abuse and victimisation resulting in the murder of two of my employees, the rape of three, the loss of an unborn child and the theft of my farm.  This included the contents and clothing, 820 head of cattle, 122 sheep, 14 horses, 12 chickens, eight bantams, four rabbits, eight guinea pigs, two cats, eight tractors, three lorries, five pick-ups and a full range of faming equipment, including irrigation pipes, pumps and motors.

I pushed him to the floor after he had told me these items had been taken from me because my father and grandfather were thieves and murderers and that I would never set foot on my beloved Charleswood Estate again.

I was unconstitutionally sentenced by the Zimbabwe parliament to an illegal and excessive prison term of 12 months, and imprisoned on the October 28 as hard labour prisoner No 3395/04.

I have just been released after serving eight months, having had four months removed by the Prison Act for good behaviour. I lost 23kg. On my first day I arrived at Harare Central Prison to find all the top brass waiting for me.

I was told to step naked in front of them and given a new set of white canvas shorts and a shirt to put on. I was taken to cell upper 12, which was the juvenile cell. On reaching the cell door I was ordered to undress and I was thrown filthy, lice-infested clothes that exposed my private parts.

I walked around for two days in these clothes until the Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights arrived. The authorities tried to give me the clean clothes back, but I refused, and after the lawyers intervened and made representations, the clothing abuses ceased.

I am also very disturbed and sad for those  remaining behind
The conditions were appalling. There was no hygiene, and only filthy lice-infested blankets. The ablution blocks were in a terrible state and the food was inadequate with very little nutritional value. There was total repression and inhumane treatment by the guards.

I witnessed several beatings and heard the pitiful screams when the prisoners were taken by guards into empty cells and forced to lie on the  floor face down, with their legs bent to expose their bare feet. They were beaten on the soles of their feet with a rubber truncheon.

Every time a prisoner talked to a guard they had to either sit or squat on their haunches and if they were not down by the time the guard was next to them, they were slapped and kicked to the ground. They were spoken to in a very derogatory manner and had all their dignity stripped from them.

Ninety percent of the prisoners never received visitors, who would be their only source of toothpaste, soap or fruit and food. As a result, they ended up exchanging sexual favours in order to get food or basic needs.

I am happy to be back with my family and friends, but I am also very disturbed and sad for those remaining behind. The
prison experience has made me more determined to fight for the basic rights of the Zimbabwean people and a better life for all.