By A Correspondent
Former Zanu PF heavyweight Engineer Walter Mzembi has urgently called upon SADC and First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa to secure the release of Nicole Chabata, a schoolgirl currently imprisoned.
Nicole is among the Avondale 78 who were detained by the regime for allegedly planning to disrupt the SADC Summit.
Mzembi stated:
“SADC Presidents attended the 44th Summit but left Nicole Chabata, a minor, incarcerated in the notorious Chikurubi Maximum Security Prison.
Despite subsequent meetings, including President Mnangagwa’s recent appearance at the FOCAC meeting in China, there has been no follow-up on whether Nicole was released in time for her O-Level exams, or on the status of other detainees.
Ironically, this detention occurred on June 16, the Day of the African Child, which commemorates the brutal killing of students in Soweto by the Apartheid regime.
Among the Presidents was Tanzanian President Samia Suluhu, a maternal figure in this predominantly male group, who should be inquiring about this girl’s situation.
Many leaders, including President Masisi, who was reportedly ‘flabbergasted’ by Zimbabwe’s Precabe Farm, neglected to speak up for Nicole.
Our founding SADC Fathers, who had firsthand experience with imprisonment, would have likely demanded a prison tour, given their own histories, such as Nelson Mandela, who spent 27 years in prison.
Cyril Ramaphosa is perhaps preoccupied with balancing his ‘historical’ GNU and is unlikely to be concerned about a girl left in such dire conditions.
President Mnangagwa, having served 10 years in prison himself, is familiar with the harsh effects of incarceration.
His own experience has made him known for being ‘unforgiving,’ a trait linked to his own imprisonment as a minor.
So, where is the empathy and brotherhood in SADC? Nicole deserves to have her childhood restored, stolen by the prison system and those who should know better.
Maiguru (First Lady Auxillia Mnangagwa), where do you stand? I heard you speak thoughtfully to a London reporter last night—please advocate for this girl.
Thank you.”