US Secretary of State honours Jestina Mukoko

By Violet Gonda
11 March 2010

Jestina Mukoko, the Director of the Zimbabwe Peace Project, has been honoured by US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton at the annual International Women of Courage Award ceremony.

The Secretary of State said: “We are honoring women from around the world who have endured isolation and intimidation, violence and imprisonment.”

“Many have even risked their lives to advance justice, freedom, and equal rights for everyone. Their stories remind us of how much work there is left to do before the rights and dignity of all people, no matter who you are or where you live, are respected and protected by the world's governments.”
Mukoko was abducted from her home by state agents in December 2008 and held captive in police custody for several days before being brought to court. At the time her family and friends feared the worst as the police denied she was in their custody.

Mukoko and several MDC and civic activists went on to spend several months in jail on trumped up charges of plotting to overthrow the former ZANU PF government.

The civic leader was among nine other human rights defenders who received the prestigious award in Washington DC on Wednesday. The award by the US State Department recognises courageous women who advocate for human rights and social justice.

US First Lady Michelle Obama said at the ceremony: “Jestina Mukoko of Zimbabwe was abducted from her home, she was tortured, she was interrogated for hours while forced to kneel on gravel - all for the simple act of speaking out about the government’s human rights abuses. Yet, she emerged unbroken. And as she put it, “I came out of this experience not a bitter person, but a better person.” That is the thread, that’s the thread that runs through all of our honorees’ stories - that ability to draw strength from suffering, the determination to not just advance their own lives, but the lives of others, as well.”

The other winners are anti corruption fighter Ann Njogu of Kenya; anti traffic activist Androula Henriques from Cyprus; women’s rights activist Shadi Sadr from Iran; human rights advocate Sonia Pierre of the Dominican Republic; Shukria Asil of Afghanistan, Sister Marie Claude of Syria; Jansila Majeed & Colonel Shafiqa Quraishi from Sri Lanka and Dr. Lee Ae-ran of North Korea.

In a tribute to the 10 honoraries, Mrs. Obama said: “That’s what makes these women so extraordinary - that they not only refuse to be victims of injustice and oppression, they also refuse to be bystanders.”