Aylesbury LIFE because Learning Is For Everyone

I found the address for Kembo Mohadi, Minister of Home Affairs, Zimbabwe, today so I wrote him a letter, friendly chap that I am.

I pondered for a moment how should I send it as I don't suppose Zim post is running at peak efficiency right now. In the end I decided paper is worth it's weight in gold so I will send that anyway. Email, if it works, get's through so much quicker and the situation is urgent so that will happen too. Finally a copy stays here on the web site, for Kembo's convenience if he ever happens to do a do a Google search or summize better.

Ok, ok, here is the letter before the ICT lesson I never thought I'd write today totally gets in the way.

from: Jocelyn E. Chappell
Aylesbury,
England

30 May 2008

to: Kembo Mahadi
Minister of Home Affairs
Eleventh Floor
Mukwati Building
Corner 4th Street / Livingstone Ave
Harare, Zimbabwe

Dear Minister,

I am writing to ask for your help and to express my concern for the ordinary people of Zimbabwe. Thugs are beating up a lot of people and my plea really to yourself and to the police and to the army is very simple. Your job is to protect every citizen of Zimbabwe. That is a noble calling requiring wisdom and courage and I commend you in it.

If grandmothers are being torn away from the communion rail in church for no good reason, if people are being beaten up, horrifically tortured and murdered merely for voting the "wrong way", if property and food is being destroyed likewise, if the widest range of independent sources are also saying this is so then world opinion will agree it is happening. The balance of the evidence would permit no other view, still less so if things get even worse. An illegitimate government after the run-off election should never see sanctions lifted.

I do ask you to consider for a moment that if Mugabe has lost the election, then it can make no long term sense to prop him up. So don't prop him up, and don't allow the army and police to terrorise ordinary citizens. I realise I am asking you to take a path that would require much courage and probably some personal loss along the way. But one consequence of acting with wisdom and great courage at this time could be to stand you in good stead for the future.

May God bless you.

Yours Sincerely,

Jocelyn E. Chappell