By Own Correspondent
A Mutoko human rights activist working for a community based organisation there has reportedly went into hiding after facing continued harassment from suspected state agents .
The activist ,Givemore Gorwe has been leading through his organisation to demand transparency around Chinese investments in lithium mining in Mutoko which could have courted the ire of some corrupt politicians who are reportedly benefiting from these opaque mining deals.
Speaking to this publication ,a close ally of Gorwe who refused to be named for fear of victimisation said the harassment started in May when the organisation hosted an awareness campaign on environmental rights.
“In May ,Gorwe’s organisation held an awareness campaign on environmental rights in response to the sprouting of Chinese mining companies that are disregarding environmental laws and policies.So he was the facilitator .
“Suspected state security agents from the dreaded CIO,military intelligence and Police Internal Security Intelligence(PISI) descended on the meeting disrupted it .Gorwe was interrogated for wanting to cause despondency.They claimed he was a regime change agent bent on discrediting Chinese firms to please his ‘masters’,”says the ally .
The publication was told that the harassment was sanctioned by a local known Zanu PF big wig who has vested interests in the Chinese firms.
According to Gorwe’s ally,the activist was not perturbed much but it was when he started working with Zimbabwe Election Support Network for training of elections observers that the threats became more pronounced.
“Towards the harmonised elections ,Gorwe was a trainer of elections observers working with ZESN.While he was away training on 9 August in Marondera and a group of Zanu PF youths besieged his home where they were singing revolutionary songs.
“It really terrified his wife that the following morning she had to go to her maternal home,”added the ally.
Asked about the whereabouts of Gorwe,his colleague said he told him that he was going into hiding because the threats have intensified.
“He said to me the time when he came back from Marondera,he met a known Zanu PF youth who told me that he was aware of my trainings and they were going to deal with me .Imagine ,they also threatened his friend who runs a bar in the area that if Gorwe continue to patronise the place they were going to burn it down,”.
The threats are coming at a time the government is cracking on dissent .Former St Mary’s Mp and opposition member Job Sikhala is languishing in remand prison on charges of inciting public violence.Another opposition leader Job Ngarivhume was jailed 4 years for the same charges.Analysts have also condemned the Private Voluntary Organisations (PVO) bill as a way by the regime to control and muzzle Non-Governmental Organisations(NGOs).
