Sokwanele Urgent Press Release
Sokwanele - Enough is Enough - Zimbabwe
PROMOTING NON-VIOLENT PRINCIPLES TO ACHIEVE DEMOCRACY
PRESS ALERT
Farmer and family currently under seige in Zimbabwe: farm workers are
being violently assaulted
Sokwanele : 30 April 2008
Wayne Munroe, a farmer in Nymandlovhu (just outside Bulawayo in
Matabeleland South, Zimbabwe), has been under siege since early this
morning. His property has been encircled by in excess of 100 "war
veterans".
He phoned the police in Nymandlovhu to inform them of the problem and
was on the phone to them when 4 "war veterans" entered his office. He
immediately told the member in charge that they were there and that a
303 (gun) was being pointed at his chest. He was forced to hang up.
A tussle ensued: Munroe was injured on the hand with the head of an axe
blade and he sprayed the attackers with pepper spray enabling him to
escape.
He was fired at 4 times, but they missed, and Munroe managed to get to
the farm house where his mother and grandmother live.
The war veterans moved into the compound outside the perimeter fence and
are busy right now beating the workers.
Munroe's wife and his two children, aged 4 and 5, are holed up in their
own house some 100m away.
One of the workers managed to escape the beating at the compound (which
is outside the perimeter fence of both farm houses) and managed to get
to Munroe.
He told Munroe that after they finished beating the workers, they were
coming for the farmhouses.
Mrs Munroe (Ursula) managed to phone out that she was going to attempt
getting to her husband, but has failed because more armed "war veterans"
have moved in.
She is currently there now.
Senator David Coltart has repeatedly called Chief Inspector Munyira at
Nymandlovhu to go and assist the Munroes.
Coltart was told by the police they would send a detail out but at
3.10pm one - ONE - police officer arrived at the gate of the farm and
then left.
To add to the sinister nature of the situation, this morning the regular
member in charge and various other officers were replaced at Nymandlovhu
police station. This points to the fact that the police were not trusted
to carry out this brutal assault.
Yesterday Munroe was warned that there had been a meeting at stops camp
in Bulawayo where the decision to invade had been made.
==== For more information please contact =======
SWRadio Africa (http://www.swradioafrica.com)
are attempting to contact
the Munroes. To prevent the Munroe telephone line from being blocked up
with calls at a time of crisis we are asking the press to please contact
SWRadio Africa directly for information. They will be functioning as an
intermediary for press enquiries.
Gerry on (44) 2083871407 direct line until 6pm UK
Gerry mobile (after 7pm) (44) 7789874019
Tererai mobile (44) 7985140135
Gerry@[EMAIL PROTECTED]
Coltart can be contacted on : +2782-5520988
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