Open letter to the Minister of Defence Cde Oppah Muchinguri Kashiri

Dear Mom,

I know you are still in grief after losing Manicaland Resident Minister Dr Ellen Gwaradzimba and other close comrades like Nyikayaramba, Shiri, Zimhondi, Sibusiso Moyo among others to Covid 19. May their dear souls rest in peace.

However, I have some very disturbing issues which are happening in Mutare, in particular Hob House. Mom, in Hob House soldiers are beating up people just like what was happening during Ian Smith era.

We understand that Covid 19 is a very dangerous pandemic which has killed even your very close comrades who were Ministers in just a week. But mom, is this a certificate or justification for soldiers to beat up people?

As I'm speaking, there are people who are nursing their wounds after they were severely beaten by soldiers. One is a man who was beaten just after dropped by a taxi at Vacphone in Hobhouse. This man was beaten and threatened with death.

There's also a woman who was beaten just because she was cooking outside the house. Soldiers told her that she should not get outside the house....is this fair? Beating a woman who was in her yard, cooking for her family?

There are so many cases of people harrassed and beaten.

This barbaric action of violating human rights is uncalled for. Our Rights should be respected. Who will defend the defenceless if the defenders are beating the defenceless?

We kindly ask for your intervention before it is too late Hon Minister, our mother.

Yours in tears
Fanuel Chinowaita
Human Rights Defender and watchdog of the Community