By Jane Mlambo| Top human rights lawyer Beatrice Mtetwa has revealed how she saved the now Deputy Minister of Defence and War Veterans Victor Matemadanda from death after he was targeted for elimination on a contrived night trip to Gokwe on the pretext of going to search his house.
In an open letter to President Emmerson Mnangagwa, Mtetwa reminded Matemadanda how they resolved to stay with him at the Law and Order Section all night so as to protect him from state security agents who wanted to eliminate him.
Prior to the November 2017 military coup, Matemadanda and other war veterans leaders including Christopher Mutsvangwa, Headman Moyo and Douglas Mahiya became a target for state security agents due to their open support for Mnangagwa and the lacoste faction in the ruling Zanu PF.
“I remember being asked by one of the Comrades to help in the trumped-up charges brought against them for exercising freedoms granted to them by the constitution. I remember how it was clear that your comrade Victor Matemadanda, now Deputy Minister of Defence, was targeted for elimination on a contrived night time trip to Gokwe on the pretext of going to search his house.
“I remember how we resolved that we would drive in a convoy to wherever the comrade was taken regardless of the time of day. I remember how our team resolved to stay with him at the Law & Order Section all night if that was necessary and indeed I got home at 01.00hrs that night after following the police to where he was finally lodged that night and ensuring his name was entered in the detention book. Comrade Matemadanda, do you remember that night?
“Do you remember how we taught you and comrade Headman Moyo how to walk when manacled together with leg irons? Do you remember Dave Drury tying your one leg to that of Comrade Headman Moyo’s leg with his tie and the two of you practising to walk whilst carrying your plastic of provisions? Do you, in the War Veterans Association believe that this was done so that your dispensation could abduct, torture and abuse young women exercising the same rights that the old dispensation harassed and arrested you for?,” said Mtetwa.