His Excellency Mr. G. Punungwe
Ambassador of Zimbabwe in Brussels
Your Excellency,
Concerned citizens in Europe and millions of Zimbabweans - inside and outside the country - are seriously concerned about the safety of Lovemore Madhuku and Lovemore Matombo and their families.
Lovemore Madhuku is the Chairman of the National Constitutional Assembly (NCA) and has been advocating for improvements in human rights and governance in Zimbabwe for years. He was arrested and tortured many times and even left for dead by the roadside. Recently he has been threatened by the Commisioner of Police.
Lovemore Matombo is President of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions (ZCTU). Matombo is an activist working for labour and human rights in Zimbabwe. Last month he survived an attempt to shoot him at an ZCTU Executive Committee meeting. The perpetrator was identified but has not been arrested. A member of Matombo's family has also been threatened.
Both Lovemores are being threatened verbally and physically and with legal action. In the period following the parliamentary elections these threats are especially intimidating and must be taken very seriously. I therefore fear for the lives of both Lovemore Madhuku and Lovemore Matombo.
I call on the Zimbabwean government - and particularly on President Robert Mugabe - to allow both Lovemore Madhuku and Lovemore Matombo to do their work freely and without threat. I urge President Mugabe to guarantee the safety of both Lovemores and their families, and to ensure that the government, the youth militias, the police and other security apparatus cease to threaten them.
