Zimbabweans attacked after leaving embassy grounds

Edinburgh News.Net
Monday 7th July, 2008

More than 350 people, who had sought santury in the South African embassy from political violence, were attacked on Monday at a government camp, where they had been relocated.

About 20 men in military fatigues and balaclavas carrying shotguns, burst in on the refugees at the state rehabilitation camp near the village of Ruwa about 30 km east of Harare, where they had been assured last month by the South African embassy they would be secure.

Eight people, three of them women, had to be taken to hospital after the beatings.

Fourteen young men, believed to have either fled into bushland or been abducted, are missing.

The 354 refugees were displaced from their homes in northern Zimbabwe by a countrywide wave of state-backed militia violence against supporters of the opposition Movement for Democratic Change before the June 27th presidential run-off election.

The violence caused MDC leader Morgan Tsvangirai to pull out of the run-off, leaving President Robert Mugabe to sweep up a controversial sixth term in power uncontested.

The group had been sheltering at Harvest House, the MDC's headquarters in Harare last month, when police raided the building.

Most were able to flee and make their way to the South African embassy's car park.

After spending nearly five days in the open in midwinter, they were finally provided with food, water, sanitation, tents, blankets and mats by local non-governmental organisations.

On June 27th, they were moved again by Zimbabwe authorities, with the agreement of the South African embassy, after obtaining assurances they would be protected by police.

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