May 21, 2008 / 21:54 pm
Grave human rights abuses triggered by a disputed presidential election continue to afflict Zimbabwe. Politically-motivated violence has affected thousands of victims and has driven many from their homes before next month’s presidential run-off election.
A priest from Zimbabwe, speaking on condition of anonymity, described the situation to the international Catholic charity Aid to the Church in Need (ACN).
The priest said that the violence especially afflicts rural areas. People who had voted for the opposition party Movement for Democratic Change have been kidnapped, tortured, maimed and raped by soldiers and militia groups. Many Catholic priests and laity are on the wanted lists of these violent groups, and many are in hiding following death threats, he said.
Many of the streets and roads are filled with people living in the open because their possessions have been plundered and their houses looted and burned down.