adminThe call comes in the wake of reports that scores of people continue to flock to teh ZEPPDRA offices in Bulawayo requesting to be vetted two weeks after the mop-up exercise ended.
The Government recently invited all people who were detained, imprisoned and restricted for political reasons between 1959 and 18 April 1980 to visit Davies Hall in Bulawayo for vetting so that they get compensation for their role in the liberation struggle.
“The just-ended vetting exercise was done quietly and peacefully. A total of 145 people were successfully vetted. Most people started coming after the Chronicle story,” said Cde Samuel Mpofu, ZEPPDRA chairman for Bulawayo Province.
“However, scores of people continue to flock to our offices seeking to be vetted. Some of them got the information late especially those who live in remote areas who could not afford to read the newspaper.
“We appeal to the Government to give us another chance to vet more people. We want to fulfil the desire to vet those who were left behind.”
Cde Mpofu said names of those who were successfully vetted have been submitted to the pensions office in Harare where their documents would be processed before they get compensation.
“Those who qualify will be compensated through their bank accounts. Each will be paid $150 per month but $10 will be deducted for funeral contributions.
“As part of compensation the Ministry of Labour and Social Services will pay school fees for beneficiaries’ children who are below 18 years,” said Cde Mpofu.
ZEPPDRA national secretary-general Cde Douglas Ndlovu said among the people who were vetted were widows of renowned political leaders from Matabeleland such as the late Cdes Sydney Malunga, Todd Msongelwa, John Mabhena and Njini Ntuta.
He said the vetting committee used the pensions department guidelines, which stated that only detainees from Gonakudzingwa and Sikombela detention centres were exempted from producing detention, prison, or restriction numbers.
Cde Ndlovu, however, said during the exercise the vetting team noted that other detainees were claiming that they had been detained at Stops Camp and other police camps, where they said they were not given any detention numbers as indicated in their completed forms.
“Stops Camp was a specially designated area within Ross Camp in Bulawayo. It was used by the Rhodesian government as holding cells for political prisoners before they were taken to court,” said Cde Ndlovu.
“Some of our police officers today do not know that there was such a place within Ross Camp. Many people died in that camp during the liberation struggle.
“The Rhodesian police would pick up the suspects at night and take them to Bulawayo Central Police Station for recorded statements. After that the suspects would be taken to Stops Camp for interrogation and torture before being thrown into cells or horse stables for detention. The lucky ones would remain in the camp for a period of six to 18 months without trial.”
Cde Ndlovu said most of those who were found in the cells were young and old people who would have tried to cross into Botswana en route to Zambia.
He said a majority of them were brutally tortured with some dying on the spot.
“At night their bodies would be taken by the Special Branch, never to be seen again. Most people who died at Stops Camp have never been accounted for until this day.
“In other cases those that were released would eventually die because of diseases contracted while they were in prison. No one was allowed to get medical assistance while in the cells,” said Cde Ndlovu.
“The current co-Minister of Home Affairs Cde Kembo Mohadi was also detained at Stops Camp. Those that were at Stops Camp were never given prison reference numbers.
“These are the ones that have written affidavits which were attached to the vetting documents.”
Online Reporter