December 17, 2008
President Robert Mugabe
Office of the President
Private Bag 7700
Causeway, Harare
Zimbabwe
Fax : +263 4 708 211
Dear President Mugabe:
We are writing on behalf of the International Women’s Media Foundation to express our alarm concerning Jestina Mukoko.
Mukoko, a former journalist who is currently a human rights activist, was abducted Dec. 3 from her home in Zimbabwe. She was taken by 15 men in plain clothes, some armed with handguns, according to Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights. The men identified themselves as police from the Law and Order section of the Zimbabwe Republic Police. However, police in Zimbabwe have denied holding Mukoko. The reason for the kidnapping is still unknown, and police have refused to comment.
Mukoko is a former broadcaster at the Zimbabwe Broadcasting Corporation, then privately-owned Voice of the People. She now heads the Zimbabwe Peace Project, a human rights organization that has reported regularly on political violence in 2008 as ZANU-PF was beaten in the first round of elections in March by the Movement for Democratic Change.
According to Human Rights Watch, four human rights defenders – including Mukoko – were abducted in less than one week by people suspected of working on behalf of the Zimbabwean authorities.
With the increase in such threats to journalists, and even deaths because of their work, we are concerned that Mukoko’s abduction signals more restrictions on free expression and press freedom amidst the political instability in Zimbabwe. All viewpoints should be allowed to be expressed in the media without force or coercion from authorities.
As a network of thousands of women and men in the media around the world who are supporters of a worldwide free press, we respectfully urge you to take immediate action to ensure that Mukoko – who was simply engaged in carrying out her professional work – is safely released. By using your power to ensure that justice is done in this case, you will take a step toward establishing a free and independent press in Zimbabwe.
Thank you for your attention.
Sincerely,
Akwe Amosu, co-chair
Liza Gross, co-chair
cc: Embassy of Zimbabwe
1608 New Hampshire Ave
Washington, DC 20009
Fax: 202-483-9326
United States Embassy
172 Herbert Chitepo Avenue
Harare, Zimbabwe
Fax: 263- 4-796488
Human Rights Watch
350 Fifth Avenue, 34th floor
New York, NY 10118-3299
Fax: 212-736-1300
Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights
6th Floor Beverley Court
Corner Nelson Mandela Avenue and Fourth Street
Box CY 1393, Causeway
Harare, Zimbabwe
Fax: (+263 4) 251 468