Anonymous Mobile Death Threats On The Rise
By Sij Ncube
HARARE, September 25, 2015 – A PROMINENT Kwekwe-based youth human rights activist, Emmanuel Nkosilathi Moyo has allegedly receiving death threats on his mobile in what analysts say appears to be new preferred model of choices against perceived political opponents.
Moyo (28), who is the director of the Kwekwe-based Zimbabwe Organisation for Youth in Politics (ZOYP), said he has lately been receiving death threats from anonymous callers, forcing him to send distress calls to human rights groups.
“Ever since I published my latest book I have been frequently receiving death threats through anonymous calls and being promised that I will pay the price for humiliating the incumbent regime and the first family with my writings.
“I feel my life critically threatened,” said Moyo, who has written books critical of the government namely ‘Zimbabwe A Revolution Waiting To Happen’ (2013), Robert Mugabe from freedom fighter to the People’s Enemy (2014), and the latest one is ‘The Rise of Grace Mugabe; The Fall of ZANU PF (2015)’.
Two weeks ago four MDC-T legislators received similar chilling threats on their mobile phones ahead of President Robert Mugabe’s official opening of 3rd session of the 8th parliament by suspected security agents who warned them against heckling the 91-year old Zanu PF leader.
Parliament has ordered a probe into the incident which has sent shivers down the spines of opposition legislators.
Last week Zanu PF political commissar Saviours Kasukuwere also received threats on his mobile phone from his alleged opponents in Zanu PF who are said to be against his political machinations as succession battle continues to intensify in the party.
But ZimRights director Okay Machisa, confirming deaths threats to the Kwekwe youth activist, said deaths threats to human rights defenders from unknown sources could not be ruled out in Zimbabwe.
Machisa said ZimRights calls upon all politicians from all political parties not to solve their problems using any form of threat or violence.
“Our constitution is very clear on the liberties that citizens should enjoy. Sending death threats on people’s cellphones will only fuel the differences between the two parties and such kind of solving matters have never in any country brought peace and development. We also call upon state security departments especially the police to investigate this matter until the culprits who sent the messages have been brought to book,” he said.