Politically motivated violence in Zimbabwe 2000-2001
A report on the campaign of political repression conducted by the Zimbabwean Government under the guise of carrying out land reform
August 2001


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3. TARGETS OF VIOLENCE

3.5 Foreign embassies

In late April 2001, a local newspaper quoted Hunvzi as saying: "Our next target … will be to deal once and for all with foreign embassies and non-governmental organisations that are funding the MDC. We will use whatever means we have to deal with these foreign nations who want to install a puppet regime in Zimbabwe."37 His statement was widely condemned and he later attempted to deny he had made it.38

The foreign embassies demanded a guarantee of their safety and security. The Secretary for Foreign Affairs said that the Government of Zimbabwe could not guarantee the security of foreign embassies and donor agencies that flouted their terms of registration by supporting opposition parties and interfering in internal politics. This refusal to offer protection to foreign embassies was later quietly retracted.39  TOP

37 Financial Gazette 26 April 2001.

38 Business Day (SA) 29 April 2001.

39 Daily News 5 May 2001.  TOP