Dear Editor.
Matabeleland Liberation Organisation leader, Paul Siwela’s family and neighbours are living in fear after plain clothes police raided his Woodvale home in Bulawayo.
Heavily armed plain clothes police arrived at Mr Siwela’s home at around 12 midday on 10 May 2016 driving a white Isuzu truck. They surrounded the house and demanded that Cde Paul Siwela comes out.
The maid who happened to be the only person at home came out and spoke to them. They wanted to know where Cde Paul Siwela was and she informed them that she did not know. They recorded her name, ID number and cell phone numbers. They searched and ransacked the house without a warrant of search, kicking and banging doors but found nothing of interest.
As they were leaving, Paul Siwela’s daughter arrived and was subjected to vicious questioning. They also took down her name ID number and cell phone numbers.
Thereafter they proceeded to the neighbours, asking them about Paul Siwela whereabouts and recording their names, IDs, and cell phone numbers.
The family and neighbours were petrified and traumatised by the harassment they endured. After about an hour they left threatening to raid the home regularly as they believe Paul Siwela sneaks into the country regularly to visit his family.
As MLO we condemn in all strongest terms this cowardly action by the Zimbabwe government. Cde Paul Siwela is old enough and mature to think independently and speak his mind. His family and neighbours have nothing to do with what he says or does. Therefore it is very unfair, disrespectful and abuse of human rights to raid Cde Paul Siwela and his neighbour’s houses without a warrant of search let alone squeeze information out of his family and neighbours at gun point.
We are aware that this raid comes after many previous raids in the past years.
However, we are not surprised that the government of Zimbabwe, which butchered many innocent Matebeles, persecuted and abused Cde Paul Siwela several times, is now scared of him. This is exactly what JK Rowlings meant when he said, “Have you any idea how the tyrants fear the people they oppress? All of them realise that, one day, amongst their victims there is sure to be one be one who rises against them and strikes back!”
Cde Paul Siwela is the Moses of our time he is the man who will deliver us from the bondage of Zimbabwe. MLO is 100% behind him. No amount of intimidation or abuse or persecution will stop us from demanding back what belongs to us. An idiot is one who believes that we are happy to see our people and leaders being abused. A fool is one who believes that by intimidating and persecuting us he will continue seeing our smiles.
Legions of soldiers or desperate CIOs will never stop an idea who’s time has come.
Matabeleland independence by 2018!
Izenzo kungemazwi!
Israel Dube
MLO Secretary for publicity and private affairs.