PETITION TO HIS EXCELLENCY, THE STATE PRESIDENT OF THE REPUBLIC OF SOUTH AFRICA, CDE THABO MBEKI

30th November 2004

Your Excellency, the situation in Zimbabwe is a very pathetic one. The bottom line of it all is that the common man is subjected to artificial suffering.
The country of Zimbabwe has the capacity and the potential to be a happy, prosperous nation but the prevailing situation is really pathetic.
It is common knowledge, sir, millions are leaving and have already left the country because of the appalling economic, social and precarious political situation.
What saddens many of us is that the Zimbabweans fleeing to the Republic of South Africa are being treated in a manner that leaves a lot to be desired (to put it mildly).
The detention centres at Lindela and other places are reportedly not fit and conducive for respectable human habitation.
The misguided thinking in South Africa (allegedly propagated by yourself, Your Excellency) is that since there is no "war" in Zimbabwe, there is no reason for the huge influx of Zimbabweans into your country.
Unsuccessful efforts are therefore done by your Government to deport many of these sad ill-fated Zimbabweans with the result that some of them jump from trains to certain death.
We feel that it is very inhuman and unfair for the South African community to treat their own fathers and sisters from across the Limpopo River in that manner more so since it is common knowledge that Your Excellency has announced that you will not actively assist the two main political parties to engage in dialogue preferring rather a dubious "no action", the so-called "quiet diplomacy".
The truth about the political situation in Zimbabwe is that it is (for all practical purposes) a criminal offence to belong to the Movement for Democratic change (MDC).
Members and sympathisers of the MDC are harassed, tortured, raped, unjustifiably imprisoned etc.
The economy itself is in a mess such that for basic survival, millions have been reduced to scavengers, destitutes and prostitutes.
We are therefore disappointed that in spite of the capacity at your disposal to prevail on the ZANU PF regime to return to a state of sanity, Your Excellency has decided to "bury his head in the sand" and pretend that there is no crisis in Zimbabwe.
Incidentally, Your Excellency, I, Mufaro Stig Hove, am a South African Citizen by birth having been born at Bethania Hospital, Dundee, Natal in 1956.
Incidentally, I am also a Minister of the Christian Religion having been trained at the Union Bible Institute in Pietermaritzburg, Natal (1979-1981).
I humbly seek your audience to represent the people of Zimbabwe, whom I honestly feel and see are getting a hostile reception from their brothers and sisters in the Republic of South Africa.
I remain,
Your humble citizen.

Mufaro Stig Hove

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Received by Mr Willem Geerlings…First Secretary (Political)
South African Embassy (HARARE).
Assured of onward transmission today to Pretoria.
11.30 am, 30th Nov, 2004.