Thursday, 18 Jul 2002
Dear ZIC supporter,
Yesterday I received news that Mrs Sekai Holland (MDC Secretary for International Affairs) is likely to be arreted and her passport seized, and her husband, Jim Holland, an Australian citizen, is likely to be deported.
Three reliable sources contacted Mrs Holland on Tuesday evening to warn her that the Cabinet had made this decision earlier in the day.
While preparing for hte worst, Mrs Holland has informed the Australian and other High Commissions and Embassies of the threat, and asked them to urge the Mugabe government not to implement this decision.
Mrs Holland wrote: "No one is really surprised. We have heard for a long time that the MDC party department that most worries Mugabe's boys is the small MDC International Affairs one. I think it is a tribute to you all in Australia in the Zimbabwe Information Centre. It is all of the handful of supporters everywhere outside Zim who have loyally, tirelessly assisted MDC to build itself up. I want to congradulate everyone of you because the attack on Jim and I is really an admission of your effectiveness, all of you in your work".
Mrs Holland believes that the immediate trigger for the impending move against her and her husband was Jim's impact as a witness in the outrageous case against Guardian journalist Andrew Meldrum. Jim's evidence was crucial in the surprise decision to throw out the charge, based on the new laws to curb journalists. On his acquittal, Meldrum was threatened with immediate deportation, but the government has so far failed to demosntrate to the High Court any ground for his deportation. This legal problem may also assist Jim Holland.
Mrs Holland's own role in speaking to African leaders in Durban, at the recent launching of the African Union, is another reason.
Mrs Holland believes that the decision to move against her and Jim reveals the desperation of the Mugabe government, and is an indicator that change will come soon. She reports that very poor people everywhere are now openly saying how fed up they are with what Mugabe has done to their lives, and that it must end.
She warns the international community about making any deal with Mugabe behind the backs of MDC. She fears that Mugabe will lash out at MDC with extreme violence as his regime continues to crumble, but that the people will remove him at this point, and change will come. Chinja!
I propose that ZIC launches a media release, and calls for a protest blitz to the Zimbabwe High Commission in the short time now available to us, and at the same time, call on all our institutional and political supporters to press the Australian government and the Commonwealth to protest in the strongest terms at the threat.
In solidarity,
Peter Murphy
Secretary
Choose your own words, but the message could be like this:
Ms Florence Chitauro
High Commissioner for Zimbabwe
11 Culgoa Circuit
O'MALLEY ACT 2606
Fax: 02 6290 1680
eMail
Protest at threat to Mrs Sekai Holland and Mr Jim Holland
Dear High Commissioner,
I protest in the strongest terms at reliable reports that the Zimbabwe government decided at its meeting on July 16 to have Mrs Sekai Holland, MDC Secretary for International Affairs, arrested and her passport seized, and to have Mr Jim Holland's permanent residency revoked and to deport him.
This repression of political opponents can only further damage and isolate the government of Zimbabwe, and make worse the terrible economic, health, social and political catastrophe now overwhelming your country.
I urge your government to cancel this decision to repress the Hollands, and instead to respond genuinely and urgently to the call of your people for democracy, peace and recovery, and the similar persistant calls of the international community, icnluding your African neighbours.
Yours sincerely,
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