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Violet Gonda
18 December 2009
Two members of the Progressive Teachers Union of Zimbabwe (PTUZ), who were found guilty of inciting violence in Chipinge on 8 December, have been sentenced to 18 months in jail.
The two women teachers, Isee Makhuyana and Moreblessing Hliziyo, were found guilty of inciting violence against ZANU PF war veterans during the run up to last year’s Presidential run-off. A statement by the Crisis in Zimbabwe Coalition said the two are accused of inciting Mount Selinda High School students to attack a ZANU PF base in Chipinge. This was after the abduction of Pastor Mhlanga, clergyman in charge of the mission.
According to the Coalition, a group of ZANU PF youths and war veterans had entered the school premises and kidnapped the clergyman. Pastor Mhlanga was taken to a ZANU PF base in the Chipinge area where he was assaulted and accused of preaching MDC propaganda. It is reported students and teachers at the school descended upon the ZANU PF base trying to mount a rescue mission for the pastor, but the militia and the war vets got hold of the police and eight students and four teachers were arrested.
The students and two of the four teachers were found not guilty earlier in the year, but Makhuyana and Hliziyo were slapped with an 18 month jail sentence on Wednesday.
Hundreds of MDC supporters have been killed, thousands raped, kidnapped and assaulted, and tens of thousands tortured, but none of the ZANU PF perpetrators have been brought to justice.
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