Lenin Ti Chisaira

Sunday night 17 July brought the sad news that comrade David Mpatsi, a socialist from Zimbabwe, had died in hospital after suffering from a lung infection that turned fatal after his unjust imprisonment earlier in the year by the Mugabe regime. David was thrown in jail on 19 February, along with 44 other activists and socialists, men and women, young and old, trade unionists, students and unemployed, for the “crime” of attending a meeting to discuss the lessons that could be drawn by Zimbabwean activists from the overthrow of the dictatorships in Egypt and Tunisia.

After two weeks in jail, during which time several of the 45 were tortured or otherwise abused, 39, including David, were released and no charges pressed. The other six (Munyaradzi Gwisai, Tafadzwa Choto, Tatenda Mombeyarara, Hopewell Gumbo, Edison Chakuma and Welcome Zimuto) were released, subject to onerous bail conditions, on charges of treason, which opened up the threat of execution for the Zim 6. The international outrage that greeted this, including worldwide media coverage, messages of support, financial assistance towards their legal case, support for the families of those arrested and protests outside Zimbabwean embassies by trade unions, NGOs and left wing political groups, forced the prosecutors to drop the charge of treason in favour of “subversion”, for which the Zim 6 may still receive up to 20 years in jail.

On Monday 28 July, the Zim 6 appeared in court in Harare to face the charges, with supporters rallying outside the court as the case was brought before the judge. The comrades have now been remanded to 22 August. The trial had been originally pegged for the morning but it only kicked off at 3pm. The prosecution has come up with a new charge, Inciting Public Violence, which carries a maximum sentence of 10 years imprisonment.

David Mpatsi’s death should be sheeted home squarely to the Mugabe government. Not only should David not have been thrown in jail, but the conditions of his imprisonment only worsened his health. David was one of 17 of those jailed who was locked up in solitary confinement. While suffering from the horrible conditions that lie in store for all those jailed by the Mugabe regime, David suffered particularly acutely because of the lack of decent medical care while he was locked up. As the Zimbabwean comrades say, David was killed by the Government as surely as if it had placed a noose around his neck.

Hundreds of socialists, MDC activists and family members attended David’s funeral and left even more resolved to carry the fight forward against the Mugabe dictatorship. Socialist Alternative extends our condolences to David’s family and comrades and our solidarity to all those who are fighting the ZANU-PF regime.

David leaves a wife and three children who are in need and if there is anyone wishing to offer assistance, please feel free to contact the International Socialist Organisation (ISO) Zimbabwe on details below:

Post: P.O. Box 6758 Harare

Tel: +263-4-704 209

Fax: +263-4-704209

E-mail: iso.zim@gmail.com This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it

Web: isozim.blogspot.com Facebook: International Socialist Organisation (ISO) Zimbabwe OR Socialist Zimbabwe

This article is reprinted from Socialist Alternative.